SUSPENSIONS

[Sunners]

I've tried asking this question on our own forum but so far I haven't had a response....why are the suspensions in non-league football more harsher than in professional football?

I've read today that Nistelrooy could get a 3 match ban for his attempt to make Ashley Coles leg look like tram lines at Blackpool. We have just had a player suspended for 50 odd days for retaliating by stamping on someone who had just had an opponent jump in on him with both feet and his studs showing. This player by the way went unpunished. I know he shouldn't of retaliated but shouldn't the punishment that is given out for violent conduct be the same in all walks of football?

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[American FLEET FAN No1]

Depends on the players previous record...I think!

[Burnham Lad]

Looks to me like it may also be about MONEY! It is dead easy to kick the sh*t out of some poor non-league offender where there will be no comeback, but BAN AN MU OR ARSENAL PLAYER??? I can hear Sir Alec or Arsene now......."This is another example of FA bias against our players, who pays their wages etc......" No Contest!

[Sunners]

Maybe its because the powers that be, cannot make enough money out of players being sent off lower down the pyramid system so the only other form of punishment is to ban them for longer. If its to deter players from commiting serious foul play - it isn't working...you just have to look on TV to see it isn't. Time for a change of rules - same punishment for all; otherwise it will kill non-league football. Robbing clubs of players for two to three months at a time is not going to improve football - simply hold it back.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

I may be wrong Sunners, in your situation, but I know that some leagues like the Ridgeons league fine / suspend by days, where other leagues suspend / fine by games.

 

Is this not just the rules of your particular league?

[Sunners]

Mark,

It's possible - I'd have to ask around. I would have thought that we all come under the same flag,eventually - The FA. I presume that the FA let the leagues decide what sort of punishment is handed out and they just accept it. Hopefully sometime in the future all leagues can get together and agree on the same format of punishment, because at the moment I think that some leagues are getting a little heavy handed with 2/3 month suspensions.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Yeah, they do come under the F.A, but each league is responsible for their own rules and suspensions, that is my understanding of it.

[Sunners]

The other problem that also arises, is the right to appeal. On previous knowledge I have known players appealling against their suspension have usually ended up with a longer ban. So even though they might have a good case, players now tend not to bother appealing.

I suppose the message our league is trying to convey is 'Behave or else' - from what I've seen over the last few years the message hasn't sunk in. Probably it's time for a get together and a re-think (players, club officials, referees and league officials) I know there are monthly meetings but I don't know if all of the above get involved.