Saturday 23 December, 2017

Bye-Law 9 : THE COUNCIL

The Representatives set out above shall be elected by their Member Unions or Member Associations (as the case may be) and must be Eligible to hold such a position in World Rugby.

BYE-LAW 9. THE COUNCIL

9.1 Composition of Council

The Council shall consist of:

(a) two Representatives from each of: (i) the Foundation Unions, (ii) Unión Argentina de Rugby, (iii) the Federazione Italiana Rugby, and (iv) any other Member Union which has been categorised as a High Performance Union in accordance with the criteria approved by Council. In each case the Representatives must be or have been a member of or hold an official position within the governing body of that Member Union;

(b) one Representative from each of the following Member Associations: Asia Rugby, Rugby Africa, Rugby Europe, Oceania Rugby, Sudamericana Rugby (Rugby Americas South) and Rugby Americas North, who must be or have been a member of or hold an official position within the governing body of that Member Association;

(d) the Chief Executive Officer as a non-voting member of Council;

(e) one additional Representative from:

(i) each Member Union set out in Bye-Law 9.1(a);

(ii) each of the Member Associations set out in Bye-Law 9.1(b); and

(iii) each of the Member Unions set out in Bye-Law 9.1(f) and who are entitled to an additional vote in accordance with Bye-Law 9.4(d);

in each case, provided such additional Representative is female (who is not required to be or have been a member of the governing body of that Member Association or Member Union); and

(f) any Representative appointed in accordance with Bye-Law 9.2.

The Representatives set out above shall be elected by their Member Unions or Member Associations (as the case may be) and must be Eligible to hold such a position in World Rugby.

9.2 Applying to join Council

(a) All Member Unions other than those set out in Bye-Law 9.1(a) wishing to appoint a representative to Council may apply to the Nominations Committee at any time.

(b) Such Member Unions will be subject to review and recommendation by the Nominations Committee and must comply with the criteria required for Eligibility for Consideration of Membership to Council (the “Criteria”).

(c) The Criteria (which must for the avoidance of doubt be complied with by all Member Unions who are already in membership of Council and/or applying to become members of Council) may be reviewed from time to time but include the requirement for the relevant Member Union to demonstrate compliance with the provisions below:

(i) for applicant Unions who have never been in membership of Council: it has qualified for the two most recent Rugby World Cup Finals prior to the date of application to the Nominations Committee (note that the criteria which apply to a Member Union maintaining membership of Council in relation to qualification for the Rugby World Cup Finals is a different test as set out in Bye-Law 9.3(c));

(ii) for applicant Unions who were once in membership of Council: it has qualified for the Rugby World Cup Finals prior to the date of the application to the Nominations Committee;

(iii) it fully complies with World Rugby Membership Criteria as applicable at the time of application;

(iv) it is in good standing with World Rugby (and in particular it has filed and continues to file all appropriate paperwork/reports required by World Rugby and has paid all fees which are due for its membership or the renewal thereof);

(v) it is a member of a Member Association;

(vi) it is in good standing with its National Olympic Committee and/or National Sports Ministry;

(vii) it is able to demonstrate that good governance practice is in operation including but not limited to the following areas:

- Constitution, Bye-Laws and Regulations are fully applied;
- Three years of unqualified audited accounts or, where such accounts are qualified, such qualification(s) is not material to the Member Union’s compliance with the Criteria, as determined by the Nominations Committee;
- Three years of AGM Minutes provided;
- Transparent links with membership evident;
- Satisfactory confirmation that the Member Union has jurisdiction and control over players and the professional game in their Member Union territory; and
- Comply with any national or regional legislation, regulations or codes in the area of good governance for sporting bodies.

(d) The Executive Board and Council shall be given notice of the Nominations Committee’s recommendations in accordance with Bye-Law 9.12 and Council shall make any final decision(s) in relation to Council membership which shall take effect from the first day of January following Council’s decision (unless Council implements its decision to take effect from a different date).

9.3 Ceasing to fulfil Council Membership Criteria

(a) Ordinarily by the end of January following each Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament, each Member Union in membership of Council shall be reviewed by a nominee of the Nominations Committee (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be a World Rugby staff member) to confirm each Member Union’s continued compliance with the applicable Criteria. For the avoidance of doubt such review could take place outside of the ordinary review cycle if it is believed that a Member Union may no longer comply with the Criteria.

(b) The Nominations Committee shall consider a compliance report with respect to each Member Union ordinarily at its meeting in or about March of the year following each Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament. Ordinarily at that meeting the Nominations Committee shall make recommendation(s) with respect to the membership of Council in consideration of the Criteria set out in Bye-Law 9.2(c). The Executive Board and Council shall be given notice of the Nominations Committee’s recommendations in accordance with Bye-Law 9.12 and Council shall make any final decision(s) in relation to Council membership which shall take effect immediately following Council’s decision (unless Council implements its decision to take effect from a different date).

(c) In the event that a Member Union already a member of Council fails to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Finals, that Member Union shall, subject to a review in accordance with Bye-Law 9.3(a), continue to be entitled to appoint a representative to Council and have the opportunity to qualify for the next edition of the Rugby World Cup Finals. If such Member Union fails to qualify for the next Rugby World Cup Finals (i.e. two Rugby World Cup Finals in succession), that Member Union shall automatically lose its right to appoint a representative to Council and shall leave Council on the last day of December following the (second) Rugby World Cup Finals for which the relevant Member Union has failed to qualify.

9.4 Voting Rights on Council

The voting rights on Council are as follows:

(a) each Member Union entitled to appoint a Representative to Council pursuant to Bye-Law 9.2 shall have one vote;

(b) each Member Union entitled to appoint two Representatives to Council pursuant to Bye-Law 9.1(a) shall have two votes.

(d) Member Unions which have qualified for the two most recent Rugby World Cup Finals prior to the date of the vote and satisfy the criteria below shall have one additional vote:

(i) contribute to the Game by having a Member Union audited average annual turnover greater than £20 million or an equivalent amount in the relevant Member Union’s territory taking into account an appropriate purchasing-power parity index [1] over the previous four-year period (to reflect its investment in the Game);

(ii) bid to host (as voted at Council) or hosts a Major Event in the eight (8) year period prior to the date of the vote or is scheduled to do so in the succeeding four (4) year period after the date of the vote;

(iii) have in place a sustainable Women’s sevens and/or fifteens programme with national team participation in the Women’s Rugby World Cup Finals and/or Rugby World Cup Sevens Finals and/or qualification process for either tournament in the eight (8) year period prior to the date of the vote; and

(iv) have in place a sustainable Men’s sevens programme, or Women’s sevens programme, reflected by (at a minimum) participation in Member Association competitions and/or the Sevens World Series (male and female).

(e) the Chair shall have a casting vote;

(f) if a Member Union or Member Association has the right to appoint multiple Representatives pursuant to Bye-Law 9.1 but only one Representative is present at any meeting that Representative will receive the full number of allotted votes to the Member Union or Member Association under this Bye-Law 9.4;

(g) if a Member Union or Member Association has multiple Representatives present at any meeting, such Representatives shall determine how to cast the total number of votes allotted to that Member Union or Member Association under this Bye-Law 9.4 (including for the avoidance of doubt utilising the votes for and/or against a particular matter, provided that: (a) no more than the total number of votes allotted to such Member Union or Member Association are cast; and (b) no single vote can be split into a half vote);

(h) unless otherwise specified in these Bye-Laws, decisions on any matters before Council shall:

(i) if decided at a meeting, be determined by a simple majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives present at the meeting and entitled to vote pursuant to this Bye-Law 9.4; or

(ii) if decided by way of written resolution, be determined by a simple majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives entitled to vote pursuant to this Bye-Law 9.4; and

(i) under no circumstances shall a Representative, Member Union or Member Association be entitled to vote by proxy at a meeting of Council and for the avoidance of doubt a Representative casting multiple votes pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4(f) shall not be a proxy vote.

(j) The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for monitoring compliance with fulfilling the relevant criteria to vote as set out in this Bye-Law 9.4. If the Nominations Committee believes that a Member Union is no longer complying with the relevant criteria to vote, the Nominations Committee shall prepare a compliance report with its recommendations. The Executive Board and Council shall be given notice of the Nominations Committee’s recommendations in accordance with Bye-Law 9.12 and Council shall make any final decision(s) in relation to voting rights which shall take effect immediately following Council’s decision (unless Council implements its decision to take effect from a different date).

(k) For the avoidance of doubt no Member Union may have more than three votes on Council.

9.5 Quorum

The quorum for any meeting of the Council shall be Representatives representing at least fifty per cent (50%) of the Member Unions and Member Associations which have a Representative on Council.

9.6 Powers of the Council

As the ultimate and supreme legislative authority of World Rugby, Council has the power to make decisions on the following:

(a) The ratification of the mission, strategy, goals and plan of World Rugby as formulated by the Executive Board and the oversight of the implementation thereof by the Executive Board;

(b) The consideration and approval of the minutes of previous Council Meetings;

(d) To elect five Representatives to the Executive Board and to approve the three Independent Members, the Regional Representative and the two International Rugby Players Nominees on the Executive Board in accordance with Bye-Law 10.2;

(e) To receive a report from the Executive Board and to give consideration to the actions taken by the Executive Board since the last Council meeting;

(f) To ratify, or otherwise, as it considers appropriate, the emergency decisions taken by the Executive Board under Bye-Law 12;

(g) To receive and approve the audited group financial statements of the World Rugby Group for the preceding financial year;

(h) In appropriate circumstances, to remove members of the Executive Board;

(i) To consider and approve, as appropriate, any amendment or alteration to:

(i) the Bye-Laws;

(ii) the Regulations; and

(iii) the Laws of the Game;

(j) To receive reports from the Executive Board on the work of the Standing Committees since the last Council meeting;

(k) To consider any proposals or business of which due notice shall have been given as provided for in Bye-Law 9.12;

(l) To determine the date and agenda for the General Assembly;

(m) To determine the host Member Union(s) for all Rugby World Cup Tournaments (Men’s, Women’s and Sevens);

(n) To take such other decisions and/or steps necessary and/or incidental to the exercise of the above powers;

(o) To appoint judicial and appeal personnel in accordance with Regulation 20;

(p) Following a recommendation of the Executive Board, to elect to membership of World Rugby any Non-Member Union. The election of a Non-Member Union must be supported by:

(i) if the election takes place at a meeting of Council, a majority of at least three-quarters of votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote; or

(ii) if the election takes place by way of a written resolution of Council, a majority of at least three-quarters of votes allocated to the Representatives entitled to vote;

(q) Without prejudice to the generality of these Bye-Laws, the Council may expel or suspend from membership of World Rugby or impose such other punishment or penalty, including a fine, as it considers fit on a Member Union or Member Association for any infringement of the Bye-Laws or the Regulations or for any conduct which in the opinion of the Council is prejudicial to the interests of World Rugby or of the Game or which may bring World Rugby, the Game or any person connected with the Game into disrepute; and

(r) any other power expressly stated as being vested in Council under the Bye-Laws or the Regulations.

9.7 Constitutional Process

9.7.1 Annual and Interim Meetings

(a) The Council shall meet at least once each year and may meet up to twice each year at an “Annual Meeting” and an “Interim Meeting”.

(b) Subject to a decision of Council or the Executive Board in accordance with Bye-Law 9.7.1(d), the Annual Meeting shall normally be held in May and the Interim Meeting held in November with the exact date determined by the Officers.

(c) The Annual Meeting and Interim Meeting may be held (wholly or partly) at a physical place (with one such meeting normally to be held in Dublin) or by means of an electronic platform(s).

(d) The Annual Meeting and Interim Meeting may be held at any other time and any other location or by means of an electronic platform(s) as agreed:

(i) by Council at the preceding Annual Meeting or Interim Meeting (as the case may be), at a Special meeting or by way of a written resolution; or

(ii) by the Executive Board.

(e) The Annual and Interim Meetings shall have the same powers.

(f) The Annual and Interim Meetings shall be held for the transaction as appropriate of the business required in accordance with the powers of Council set out in Bye-Law 9.6.

(g) A minimum of one day should be allowed for the Annual Meeting and Interim Meeting.

9.7.2 Special Meetings

(a) The Chief Executive Officer shall convene a special meeting of the Council (a “Special Meeting”) if directed to do so by:

(i) the Council;

(ii) no fewer than eight (8) Member Unions or Member Associations represented on the Council); or

(iii) the Executive Board.

(b) The purpose for which the Special Meeting is being convened shall be notified by the Chief Executive Officer to every Member Union and Member Association at least six (6) weeks prior to the date fixed for the Special Meeting unless the Executive Board, in case of extreme urgency or exceptional circumstances, resolves that a shorter period of notice may be given.

9.7.3 Written Resolution

(a) Subject to Bye-Law 9.7.3(c), the Executive Board may request Council to make a decision by way of written resolution on a certain matter. Save where a decision on a certain matter specifically provides to the contrary, a decision approved by Council in accordance with Bye-Law 9.4(h)(ii) shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of Council provided that such written resolution will only be effective if it can be demonstrated that each Representative who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a meeting of Council was circulated the written resolution.

(b) The written resolution may be contained in one document or communication in any electronic form or in several documents or communications in any electronic form (in like form) each signed by one or more Representatives.

(i) the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair in accordance with Bye-Law 9.8 but without prejudice to the Independent Vote Chair requiring votes in respect of any such election to be cast in writing in advance of the relevant Council meeting if such meeting is to be held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s);

(ii) the election of the Representatives of the Executive Board in accordance with Bye-Law 9.9 but without prejudice to the Independent Vote Chair requiring votes in respect of any such election to be cast in writing in advance of the relevant Council meeting if such meeting is to be held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s);

(iii) the determination of the host Member Union(s) for all Rugby World Cup Tournaments (Men’s, Women’s and Sevens); and

(iv) the approval, as appropriate, of any amendment or alteration to the Bye-Laws, the Regulations or the Laws of the Game.

9.8 Officers

9.8.1 Election of Chair

The Chair shall be elected from the Representatives usually but not necessarily at the Interim Meeting in the year immediately following the Rugby World Cup Finals and shall hold office for a period of approximately four (4) years commencing immediately following their election until the Interim Meeting in the year immediately following the Rugby World Cup Finals which falls approximately four (4) years after their election. The terms of service must be approved by the Executive Board. They shall thereafter be eligible for re-election for one further term of four (4) years at the end of their first term of office.

(a) To be admissible, all candidatures for the role of Chair must be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer and fulfil the following conditions:

(i) be sent in writing duly signed by both the candidate and by an authorised signatory of their nominating Member Union or Member Association no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Council meeting at which the Chair is to be elected;

(ii) be accompanied by and signed by an authorised signatory of the Member Union or Member Association which is seconding the nomination of the candidate (which must be different to the nominating Member Union or Member Association set out above); and

(iii) must be Eligible to hold the position they are being nominated to in World Rugby.

(b) World Rugby shall (i) call for nominations for Chair no later than forty (40) days prior to the Council meeting at which the Chair is to be elected and (ii) circulate all nominations received in compliance with this Bye-Law 9.8 to all Member Unions, Member Associations and Council no less than twenty (20) days prior to such Council meeting.

(i) in the event that more than one candidate is proposed for the position, the Council shall vote by secret ballot.

(ii) to be elected a candidate must achieve a simple majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4 above.

(iii) if following a secret ballot none of the candidates have achieved a simple majority the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated and a new secret ballot will be taken. This process will be repeated until a candidate achieves a simple majority.

(iv) in the event of a tied vote between the lowest polling candidates, a further round of voting (by secret ballot) will take place in relation to those candidates only to determine who is eliminated. In the event of a repeated tied vote, this process shall be repeated until a candidate is eliminated.

(v) in the event of a tied vote, the Chair shall have the power to order a recess prior to a further round of voting.

(d) Where the incumbent Chair is standing for re-election an Independent Vote Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Board to manage this voting process.

(e) Where the Chair is to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), an Independent Vote Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Board to manage this voting process.

(f) Where the Chair is to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), the Independent Vote Chair may require votes in respect of any such election to be cast in writing in advance of the relevant Council meeting provided that any process of voting in advance respects the voting procedure set out in Bye-Law 9.8.1(c).

9.8.2 Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair shall be elected by Council from one of the Representatives elected to the Executive Board by Council (i.e., one of the High Performance Union Representatives, Non High Performance Union Representative or Regional Representative) usually but not necessarily at the Interim Meeting in the year following the Rugby World Cup Finals and for a period of four (4) years commencing immediately upon election.

(a) To be admissible, all candidates must be:

(i) Eligible to hold the position of Vice Chair.

(ii) Nominated and seconded by two different Representatives (i.e., excluding the candidate themselves).

(b) The voting procedure for the Vice-Chair shall be as follows:

(i) in the event that more than one Representative who has been elected to the Executive Board is proposed for the position of Vice-Chair, the Council shall vote by secret ballot in accordance with the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4.

(ii) the candidate(s) with the lowest number of votes shall drop out. The candidate with the highest number of votes shall be appointed.

(iii) in the event of the number of votes for the highest polling candidates being tied, a further secret ballot shall be held for those candidates only and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be appointed.

(iv) in the event of a repeated tied vote, the process in this Bye-Law shall be repeated until a candidate is appointed. The Chair shall have the power to order a recess prior to a further round of voting.

(c) Where the Vice-Chair is to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), an Independent Vote Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Board to manage this voting process.

(d) Where the Vice-Chair is to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), the Independent Vote Chair may require votes in respect of any such election to be cast in writing in advance of the relevant Council meeting provided that any process of voting in advance respects the voting procedure set out in Bye-Law 9.9(c).

9.8.3 Status of Chair and Vice-Chair

(a) Following election, the Chair must relinquish any office or paid position within their Member Union and may not be a Representative of their Member Union or Member Association or hold any comparable position.

(b) The Chair shall be afforded a period of six (6) months to relinquish any such office within their Member Union or Member Association, which Member Union or Member Association shall in turn be entitled to elect a replacement Representative to the Council.

(c) The Officers shall be members of all Committees, sub-committees and advisory committees (including any associated working parties/sub-groups) of World Rugby, save for the Nominations Committee where appointments are specified and detailed in Bye-Law 11.6.

(d) The Vice-Chair role is not independent so the elected Vice-Chair shall be one of the Representatives of their Member Union or Member Association and will not be in addition to that Member Union or Member Association’s Representatives.

(e) If the Chair shall cease in office then the Vice-Chair elected pursuant to Bye-Law 9.8.2, shall assume the position of Chair until the next Council meeting and at such meeting the Council shall elect a new Chair and any new vacancies that arise as a result.

(f) If the elected Vice-Chair shall cease in office then the Chair may appoint another member of the Executive Board to become Vice-Chair until the next Council meeting and at such meeting the Council shall elect a new Vice-Chair.

9.8.4 Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer shall be appointed by the Executive Board on such terms and conditions as the Executive Board shall from time to time determine and must be Eligible to hold such a position in World Rugby.

9.9 Nomination and Election of Representatives to the Executive Board

The five elected Representatives of the Executive Board shall be elected usually but not necessarily at the Interim Meeting in the year immediately following the Rugby World Cup Finals and for a period of four (4) years commencing immediately upon election.

(a) To be admissible, all candidatures must be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer and fulfil the following conditions:

(iii) must be Eligible to hold the position they are being nominated to in World Rugby.

(b) World Rugby shall (i) call for nominations for the five elected Representatives of the Executive Board no later than forty (40) days prior to the Council meeting at which such Representatives are to be elected and (ii) circulate all nominations received in compliance with this Bye-Law 9.9 to all Member Unions, Member Associations and Council no less than twenty (20) days prior to such Council meeting;

(i) in the event that more than one Representative is proposed for an available position on the Executive Board, the Council shall vote by secret ballot in accordance with the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4.

(ii) the candidate(s) with the lowest number of votes shall drop out. The candidate(s) with the highest number of votes shall be appointed.

(d) Where the Representatives of the Executive Board are to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), an Independent Vote Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Board to manage this voting process.

(e) Where all positions on the Executive Board for which the candidate is eligible have been filled, the voting procedure shall conclude.

(f) Where the Representatives of the Executive Board are to be elected at a Council meeting held wholly or partly by means of an electronic platform(s), the Independent Vote Chair may require votes in respect of any such election to be cast in writing in advance of the relevant Council meeting provided that any process of voting in advance respects the voting procedure set out in Bye-Law 9.9(c).

9.10 Proposed Alterations to Bye-Laws, Regulations and Laws of the Game

(a) Subject to Bye-Law 5, proposed alterations to the Bye-Laws, Regulations or Laws of the Game, to be considered at the Annual Meeting or the Interim Meeting shall be sent by the Member Union, the Member Association, the Chair, the Executive Board, the chairperson of any Standing Committee proposing such alteration, or the Chief Executive Officer to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 70 days prior to the date of the relevant meeting and shall be forwarded by the Chief Executive Officer to each Member Union and Member Association within 10 days thereafter.

(b) Any alterations proposed in accordance with (a) above shall state in respect of each separate proposal:

(i) the precise wording of the proposed alteration;

(ii) the reasons for the proposed alteration; and

(iii) any consequential amendments.

(c) Subject to Bye-Law 5, any proposed amendments to such proposals must reach the Chief Executive Officer no later than50 days prior to the date of the relevant meting and these will then be forwarded by the Chief Executive Officer to each Member Union and Member Association within 10 days thereafter.

(d) Subject to Bye-Law 5, where any proposals for alterations are to be dealt with at a Special Meeting the latest dates for receiving proposals and proposed amendments to them shall be determined by the Executive Board and notified by the Chief Executive Officer to every Member Union and Member Association.

(e) Subject to Bye-Law 12 until the time of the next Council meeting, no alterations to the Bye-Laws, Regulations or Laws of the Game shall be made without due notice as provided for in the Bye-Laws, unless it is an alteration consequential on or arising from some other proposed alteration of which due notice has been given, and unless there is a three-quarters majority of votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote in favour of the matter being considered without due notice.

(f) The Council, in considering any duly submitted proposal to alter the Bye-Laws, Regulations or Laws of the Game and proposed amendments thereto may modify, alter and amend such proposals provided a three quarters majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4 at the Annual or Interim Meetings or at a Special Meeting has been obtained, and such modified, altered or amended proposals shall thereafter be incorporated as part of the Bye-Laws, Regulations or Laws of the Game.

9.11 Voting on alterations to Bye-Laws, Regulations and Laws of the Game

(a) Subject to Bye-Law 12 until the time of the next Council meeting, no alterations to (i) the Bye-laws; (ii) the Regulations; or (iii) the Laws of the Game shall be made unless agreed by a three quarter majority of votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4 at any Council meeting;

(b) For the purposes of Bye-Law 9.11(a), the three-quarter majority shall equate to 75% of the total votes cast inclusive of any abstentions. If a Representative fails to cast a vote(s) this will be considered as an abstention.

(c) Voting in relation to individual changes to proposed alterations to the Bye-Laws, Regulations and/or Laws of the Game shall be as follows:

(i) a simple majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4 shall be required for individual alterations to be made to the proposed alterations;

(ii) a final vote on the proposed alteration to the Bye-laws, Regulations and/or Laws of the Game (following consideration of any individual alterations) shall require a three-quarter majority of the votes allocated to the Representatives present and entitled to vote pursuant to Bye-Law 9.4.

(d) Alterations to the Bye-Laws, Regulations or Laws of the Game approved by Council shall take effect immediately unless otherwise stated.

9.12 Notice of Other Business

Notice of any other business which falls within the purview of Council to be dealt with at the Annual or Interim Meetings (save for proposals pursuant to Bye-Law 9.10), shall be sent to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 50 days prior to the date of the relevant meting and the Chief Executive Officer shall forward such notice to every Member Union and Member Association within 10 days thereafter.

9.13 Meetings of Council

(a) Council shall procure that arrangements are in place to ensure timely and accurate announcements of and effect given to decisions made by Council.

(b) Draft minutes of meetings shall be sent first to the Chair and the Chair of any relevant committees for amendment and/or comment. Thereafter, the draft minutes shall be circulated by the Chief Executive Officer to Representatives, Member Unions and Member Associations. The minutes of a Council meeting shall be approved at the Annual Meeting, and thereafter printed for circulation.

(1) For this purpose the Nominations Committee shall determine an equivalent amount to £20 million in London, England, in the country of the Member Union using an established purchasing-power parity index such as the Economist’s Big Mac Index or other index deemed suitable by the Nominations Committee.

9. The Council