Bury's FA Cup elimination

Bury eliminated from FA Cup

Bury were eliminated from the FA Cup after fielding an ineligible player in the second round. Stephen Turnbull was on loan from Hartlepool when he appeared against Chester in a replay. As I understand it, he was ineligible because Hartlepool competed in the second round; Bury assumed that since Hartlepool lost their game, Turnbull was available for the replay, and confirmed this verbally with Hartlepool - however, the paperwork wasn't completed in time. As soon as Bury realised their mistake, they contacted the FA to admit it; for coming clean, they were eliminated from the cup and replaced by Chester.

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Again, I feel this is a trifle on the harsh side. I think a fair outcome would be to replay the match. Any thoughts?

AFC Wimbledon's point deduction

Let's start here.

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.