We're back

[abdullah]

Agreed - it is heartbreaking for the fans, and even more so when the Ryman League also punish them. It looks like they will be a win away from the drop zone if the League take away all the points from the games that Darlington played in.

 

And what of the player himself - suddenly Billy no-mates!

 

When I read the breaking news last week I knew that if there was no International clearance that the Fleet would sail on and the Wombles would beleft picking up the pieces!

 

Good luck in the next round! It will look good on your Club CV if you won the Trophy having been "knocked out"in an earlier round!

 

Abdullah - All seeing, all knowing!

 

 

[coupwotcoup]

..and does anyone know why it took so long to uncover?

[David Holden]

It does show that nobody learns anything from History.

 

It was only a few months ago that Altincham looked like they might be losing their conference spot for exactly the same offence, although they signed a player from an English club.

 

I'm sorry but any Club Secretary who now doesn't check the paperwork all the way back shouldn't be allowed to do the job.

[russ the womble]

Originally Posted By: Harry J Allstars

Good stuff.

I can see it now...

Judge: The verdict in the case of nasty AFC Wimbledon against the good people of Gravesend is guilty.

People of Gravesend: Hooray cheer cheer cheer.

Nasty Wombles: But uncle Bulgaria is innocent.

People of Gravesend: Boo, hiss.

Judge: Ladies and Gentleman what has taken place here today is justice. Who knows how long the long term demage will affect Gravesend & Northfleet but I hope that I have gone some way to repairing the damage caused by the nasty Wombles whom there is no pushiment too harsh.

Judge turns to the Wombles

Judge: I'm just sorry we can't deport people anymore. Anyway to the Gallows with you.

lol.

Good luck to Gravesend, only club I'd like to see win it now, as it would give us some sort of ironic bragging right.

Punishment doesn't fit the crime, but there you go. Maybe Fleet could strengthen their team now with our kind donation of prize funds. I hope you spend it wisely..

[David Holden]

Quote:

Punishment doesn't fit the crime

Actually this time it probably does, it's not as if Darlington just ran around doing bugger all, he contributed to one of the key moments in the match when he hooked the ball off (2 feet behind) the line.

Had that gone in it might just have raised the player's apathy level to fever pitch and we would have gone on to win the game.

[Harry J Allstars]

Originally Posted By: David Holden

Actually this time it probably does, it's not as if Darlington just ran around doing bugger all, he contributed to one of the key moments in the match when he hooked the ball off (2 feet behind) the line.

Had that gone in it might just have raised the player's apathy level to fever pitch and we would have gone on to win the game.

In my oppinion it's not a question of if the guy was allowed to play or not, it's a paperwork thing. What I mean is the paperwork not being filled out properly didn't give AFC Don's an advantage, if it had have been filled in correctly it would have changed the result.

[David Holden]

Quote:

In my oppinion it's not a question of if the guy was allowed to play or not, it's a paperwork thing. What I mean is the paperwork not being filled out properly didn't give AFC Don's an advantage, if it had have been filled in correctly it would have changed the result.

 

Sorry Harry, can we have that again, because try as I might I can't tell whether you are agreeing with me or not

[Harry J Allstars]

Sorry Dave I wasn't arguing. I agree with what you say but what I mean is the lack of the correct paperwork didn't affect the result.

[jc]

I think what he's alluding to is that if AFC Dons had asked for international clearance for Darlington, they would have got it, and so it was a question of shoddy paperwork rather than straightforward ineligibility. So it's not as if Darlington wouldn't have been able to play against us under any circumstances (e.g. if he was cup-tied).

 

If a club knowingly fielded a player who was cup-tied, that would always be blatant cheating. But a club will often have nothing to gain by knowingly fielding a player without international clearance, unless they wanted to play him in a specific match before the international clearance process could be completed and did so anyway.

 

Rules are of course rules, and it is correct that there should be sanctions related to player ineligibility. But as has been indicated, the punishment here is disproportionate to other more serious offences. A particularly good example was last season's deduction of 18 points from Alty's total for an unintentional error, while Crawley only lost 3 points for what must have been an intentional breach of the rules (i.e. breaching the salary cap).

 

So, to conclude, it seems Paul semi-agrees with you, Dave.

[jc]

I might add though, Dave, that despite the disproportionality of the rules, your point about not learning from history is spot on.

[EUFC FAN]

What upsets me is I have carefully crafted a weekend away in order not to miss any home games, and now we are are at home on the 3rd and I'll miss it!!!!

[David Holden]

Quote:

If a club knowingly fielded a player who was cup-tied, that would always be blatant cheating. But a club will often have nothing to gain by knowingly fielding a player without international clearance, unless they wanted to play him in a specific match before the international clearance process could be completed and did so anyway.

Until they get the international clearance they don't know whether he was eligible to play.

That's the whole point of the clearance system, for all they knew, the Welsh FA had just handed out a 12 match ban which would have made him ineligible.

So whilst they may not have fielded a player knowing that he was ineligble, they did field a player without knowing that he was eligble. In my book that's the same thing.

[Harry J Allstars]

Yeah but surely the player himself would know if he had been banned? Also, just for clarification, if the Welsh FA did ban him for 12 games would that not just be in the competitons that they control, ie not the Trophy? Obviosuly this all comes about as he played for Cardiff who play in the English League, FA Cup etc despite being a Welsh club but can they, a) ban players playing for Cardiff in English competitions (I presume they can) and ban a player that has played for Cardiff despite now playing in England and under the English FA?

[David Holden]

The whole point of international clearances is to stop players who have picked up a lengthy ban under one juristiction upping sticks and going elsewhere and carrying on playing.

 

So the answer to your question is yes.

[russ the womble]

if that's the point of it, then why was darlington allowed to play 10+ matches before anything was picked up? FA's own checking process isn't picking these things up. They need to get their own house in order (as per usual).

 

Anyway, sour grapes. Good luck for the season! Maybe Daish will buy you an extra striker for when McDonald is out, or someone to cover McCarthy, etc, with the prize money.

[David Holden]

The only matches that fall under the auspices of the FA would have been the Trophy matches, the league matches are run by the Isthmian league.

 

There is no central database of players as far down as the Isthmian so there is nothing to make it obvious to the FA until they happen to find out by accident.

 

In Altrincham's case it was when the Australian FA applied for clearance and this time it was when the booking was recorded. Quite why that didn't show up on the booking against Aldershot I don't know, but that's our good fortune.

[Riverview Supporter]

Should be clubs responsobilite to make sure paper work is in order.

 

If it is the leagues or FA`s then the list of games covered will be endless.

 

Being a process developer/mapper the hi level process for this will be

 

1) Do you wnat to play in the XYZ cup/league.

 

If Yes then all players/officials/grounds must make XYZ criteria.

 

Any mistakes will mean expulsion.

 

It would be the club secretarys responsibilite to make sure all paperwork meets each competitions criteria.

[Riverview Supporter]

Originally Posted By: GNFC FAN

What upsets me is I have carefully crafted a weekend away in order not to miss any home games, and now we are are at home on the 3rd and I'll miss it!!!!

Im quite happy actually. I missed Halifax , Exeter and AFC due to the girlfriend visiting from overseas. With careful planning I have made the other games and with Halifax being rearranged and us now getting a second crack at the Trophy , I may get through the whole season with only one missed game.

Just keep missing Exeter away due to family or work commitments:-(

[DA11]

This paperwork stuff makes me laugh. Surely clubs know the procedures as they owned by 'business minded people' Its like premiership clubs when they try to buy players and then find out they cant get work permits. Surely thats the first thing you find out. It's bread and butter stuff, janet and John call it what you like. If I was on the Wimbledon board I would feel disgusted and ashamed about letting their fans down big time.

[Riverview Supporter]

Just hope they dont add a "Check the paperwork" part to football manager 2008