There is no dispute that Section 4.2 of the Women's League Regulations applicable to our case states that: "The National League shall consist of up to 12 teams, except as specified in Section 4.3", while Section 4.3 of the Regulations states that: "If more than 12 teams are registered for the National League, the league will be divided into two districts (North and South), and the teams will be placed in accordance with the decision of the League and Cup Committee" (emphasis added ).
In other words, the bylaws allow the registration of up to 12 teams, i.e., the maximum number is 12, and the regulations also stipulate that the team's admission to the National League is in registration.
On the face of it, the interpretation that the association sought to give to clause 4.2 of the rules of the women's league , according to which the league will have up to 12 teams, and that as a result, the association has the authority to absorb only ten teams, is not sufficiently reasoned, and does not clarify why this provision should not be interpreted as it is, that it allows the absorption of up to 12 teams.
The reason given by the Tribunal for deviating from this interpretation is based on the fact that it should not be inferred from clause 4.3 of the Regulations that the Association must register any team that wishes to register in the National League, but that it may increase the quota of 12 teams by dividing them into districts, and that the question of whether or not a registration request will be accepted is a matter for the implementation of the Association's registration policy from time to time.
With due caution, it should be noted that the association did not point to any substantive reason explaining why the applicant would not be accepted for registration when she met the conditions of registration, and it does not make any claim that the applicant is not suitable to play in the National League or that she does not meet the criteria for admission to the National League.
In fact, a reading of the Tribunal's decision detailing the Association's arguments shows that the reason for rejecting the application lies in a change in the Association's policy stemming from the petition to the High Court of Justice, and its implications for the National League, regardless of the Applicant. As indicated by the Association's claims, it will be able to receive a budget in the future only if the number of teams in the National League is 8. In other words, the association fears that it will not have a minimum of 8 teams in the national league and therefore ostensibly prevents the applicant from registering in the national league, in order to meet the minimum required for receiving the budget in the national league.