AFC Wimbledon signed Jermaine Darlington from a non-league outfit earlier this season. Unknown to AFC, his previous registration had been with Cardiff City under the Welsh FA, requiring them to tick a box on the registration form - which they failed to do, making Darlington ineligible for somewhere in the region of a dozen games. The mistake only came to light after Darlington was booked.
As a result, AFC were thrown out of the FA Trophy, the Surrey Senior Cup and docked 18 points in the Ryman League - those gained in games where Darlington played.
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My view on this is that the punishment for a minor clerical error is hugely disproportionate. Yes, AFC inadvertently broke the rules - in letter, for sure, but hardly in spirit. They certainly gained no advantage from it. My feeling is that three points and the cup eliminations would be about right. Anyone else have an opinion?
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EDIT: Mitchamboy points to a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (scroll to number 992) that you can encourage your MP to sign. The text is:
| PUNISHMENT BY THE FOOTBALL AUTHORITIES AGAINST AFC WIMBLEDON | 27:2:07 |
| Siobhain McDonagh | |
| Alan Keen | |
| Bob Russell | |
| Mr John Greenway | |
| Mr Clive Betts | |
| Christine Russell |
| * 16 |
| Clive Efford | Mr Fraser Kemp | Mr Stephen Hepburn | |
| Mr Andrew Love | Mrs Joan Humble | Laura Moffatt | |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson | Mr Graham Allen | Mr Alan Meale | |
| Ian Lucas |
| That this House regrets that AFC Wimbledon of the Ryman League Premier Division has been deducted 18 points, fined and thrown out of the FA Trophy and the Surrey Senior Cup for registering a player without also completing an International Transfer Certificate, even through his previous club, Cardiff City, play in the Championship, which is in the English league structure, and he had retired from that club due to injury; believes that this is an excessive punishment for a minor administrative error, as the club sought no advantage and there was no dishonesty, and few people at a small community club would have realised he needed an international transfer; further notes that the error was only discovered when the player was given his first yellow card, and that if he had been a dirty player the mistake would have been uncovered earlier and the punishment would have been smaller; also notes that AFC Wimbledon was established when local fans set up their own community club after another injustice, the football authorities' decision to allow Wimbledon FC to move its franchise to Milton Keynes in 2002; congratulates AFC Wimbledon for regularly attracting crowds of several thousands and for rising from the bottom of the football pyramid to be just three promotions from entering the Football League; and regrets that if the deduction of 18 points is not reversed they will fall from top to only 13th in the Ryman League Premier Division and their fans will be robbed of the chance of celebrating promotion. |
6 comments:
It seems AC Milan would have to be bribing officials for over 8 years in order to get a points deduction anywhere near this.
An AFC supporting friend of mine points out that this deduction is enough to stop them from being Promoted but not enough to get them relegated. Which will keep them in the league for at least another season. Which considering they bring in the biggest attendances through their strong support suggests the points deduction is of benefit to other parties. Namely the league itself.
Hi, Freear,
The AC Milan comparison reminded me of one of the main reasons I object to this: AFC's mistake had absolutely nothing to do with football. Milan were trying (successfully or not) to influence referees and undermine the whole fabric of the game.
It is rather convenient that it'd keep them in the league, but I don't know - I'm a little wary of developing conspiracy theories. The league is obviously applying the letter of the law - my gripe is that the law is an ass.
The law being an ass is a very fair point.
And the conspiracy theory probably belongs in the mind of my AFC supporting friend rather than in the real world, although he did say should it go through they may boycott away games.
I think what this issue leads to, is a wider one about the decision making processes of the FA, accountabiltiy and transparency is fundamentally what fans are looking for from the sports governing bodies. Namely who makes these decisions and under what precedents they are making them. I'm often worried about the conflicts of interests that seem to reside within the FA (but more about that no doubt in the future)
It seem strange to me that total mismanagement of a club leading to bankruptcy, sees a 10 point fine, where as what amounts to a trivial admin error brings about 18.
Good news for AFC Wimbledon!
The Ryman League has reduced their punishment to a more reasonable 3 points and the original £400 fine.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6496543.stm
Thanks, Nessy, you beat me to it! I wonder What's got into football administrators recently, they've started behaving almost reasonably! I'll hopefully get to posting about this later in the day.
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