Section 7: Violations & Penalties
In-Play Sanctions (Rule 6.9): during Match play, the Referee or Tournament Director may issue sanctions for persistent gamesmanship, aggressive, abusive or disruptive behaviour, physical contact, visible or verbal obscenity, encouraging the Referee to warn an opponent, tampering with the dartboard or other stage equipment, or any conduct likely to bring the game of darts into disrepute (Rule 6.9.1). The escalation procedure is prescriptive: a first formal warning is issued; a second warning is accompanied by notice that continued behaviour will result in the player being docked a leg; if the behaviour persists, the player is immediately docked the leg in progress (or the leg just concluded) and warned that continuation will forfeit the match; a further repetition forfeits the match outright (Rule 6.9.2). Where a player makes serious physical contact with an opponent or any other person while involved in a Match — from the moment they enter the Stage or Playing Area to the moment they exit it at the match's conclusion — the Referee or Tournament Director must immediately disqualify that player and have them removed from the venue (Rule 6.9.3).
Administrative disqualification (Rules 6.1.7–6.1.11): failure to comply with the General Playing Rules makes a player liable to disqualification from the event at the Tournament Director's discretion. A disqualified player must be advised immediately, and if already in match play the match is stopped at once; the player must be given the reason for disqualification and, where reasonable grounds for appeal exist, the Tournament Director must hear the player's case before finalising the decision. Where the match was unfinished at the point of disqualification, the opponent is awarded the match and advances to the next round; where the disqualified player had already won and completed their match, they are instead removed retroactively from the draw, giving their next scheduled opponent a bye.
Playing Attire and Alcohol breaches (Rules 6.17.6, 6.18.2): a player who refuses to meet the Promoter's playing-attire requirements forfeits the relevant match and is reported to the DRA Board for disciplinary proceedings. Consuming alcohol outside a designated practice area while engaged in a Darts Event (Rule 6.18.1) may likewise result in forfeiture of the match and referral to the DRA for disciplinary proceedings.
Misconduct and discipline (Sections 7–8): under the DRA's Articles of Association, the DRA Board may charge, hear, determine, suspend (including prior to charge or a hearing), and discipline any person bound by the DRA Rules for Misconduct — defined non-exclusively to include breaches of the Rules, the Anti-Doping Rules, contractual obligations owed to the PDC, or any act bringing the player or the sport into disrepute. Misconduct is classified as Minor, Non-Minor, or Serious (Rule 8.3), with the disciplinary route and available sanctions — up to expulsion, public reprimand, fine, or suspension — determined accordingly by the Disciplinary Commissioner or Disciplinary Committee.