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The Red Darreners · 11-08-2021, 16:54

I am absolutely disgusted about this fine.

I have just sent this email to the EFL.

I encourage others to do the same - I've removed my personal details for the purposes of Accy Web:

"EFL Query – sent 11 August

Firstly PLEASE can you ensure my query goes straight to the apporopriate policy/decision maker, and ensure my query is acknowledged directly to my email

To whom it may concern

Over the last eighteen months or more the world has been in the grip of a pandemic . Whilst it did not initially seem to discriminate in terms of income, class, location, ethnic background or profession, it has since emerged that there were in fact obvious disparities in some of these regards. Many low income clubs, like my own, Accrington Stanley, struggled desperately to stay afloat during this period, and at the back end of 2020 almost our entire playing and coaching staff were stricken by this dreadful illness (I have had it too - it was easily the most unpleasant health issue I have faced in my 59 years). in common with other clubs in this unfortunate, maybe even tragic predicament, they took the steps laid down in law (and observed the necessary common sense) in mitigating the risks as best they could. Four matches were thus postponed.

Our Chairman has today shared the news that all the clubs faced with these impossible circumstances have been fined by the EFL - in our case to the tune of £7000, a sum which may seem insignificant in a profession when the likes of Lionel Messi can earn 67 euros per second, but which our club can ill afford. Nor does the right of appeal seem to me, on the face of it, to be particularly fair or transparent.

My serious, polite question is this:
Why? In these exceptional circumstances, when smaller clubs are under the threat of imminent demise, when our club did absolutely everything they could to mitigate against the chaos caused by an impossible situation, why has this fine been imposed? The postponements were a health and safety necessity - everyone involved in running the League will have been well aware that these situations would be absolutely unavoidable.

So WHY are we, and other clubs being punished in this way? My wife and I buy season tickets every year; as an interested and concerned individual (ie A FAN), I have an interest in my club, and I want to know and understand EXACTLY what my club DID WRONG to receive this apparently absurd sanction.

I also want you to know that were it not for the my club's extraordinary efforts last season, both on and off the pitch, and the empathy and selflessness of the chairman, staff and players with the vulnerable among our local community, many of us would have endured an even more unbearable experience than the one we did face. The club kept going, and largely because of this, so did we.

I therefore respectfully request that your organisation withdraw what seems to be a completely unreasonable sanction.

Much of my income finds its way into the EFL coffers directly and indirectly; as a customer and stakeholder therefore, I insist that the relevant parties explain the rationale behind this fine URGENTLY.

I look forward to reading your response.

Thank you, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Darwen, Lancs".

11-08-2021, 16:54	#1864
The Red Darreners Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 67 Liked: 131 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Bits & Bobs I am absolutely disgusted about this fine. I have just sent this email to the EFL. I encourage others to do the same - I've removed my personal details for the purposes of Accy Web: "EFL Query – sent 11 August Firstly PLEASE can you ensure my query goes straight to the apporopriate policy/decision maker, and ensure my query is acknowledged directly to my email To whom it may concern Over the last eighteen months or more the world has been in the grip of a pandemic . Whilst it did not initially seem to discriminate in terms of income, class, location, ethnic background or profession, it has since emerged that there were in fact obvious disparities in some of these regards. Many low income clubs, like my own, Accrington Stanley, struggled desperately to stay afloat during this period, and at the back end of 2020 almost our entire playing and coaching staff were stricken by this dreadful illness (I have had it too - it was easily the most unpleasant health issue I have faced in my 59 years). in common with other clubs in this unfortunate, maybe even tragic predicament, they took the steps laid down in law (and observed the necessary common sense) in mitigating the risks as best they could. Four matches were thus postponed. Our Chairman has today shared the news that all the clubs faced with these impossible circumstances have been fined by the EFL - in our case to the tune of £7000, a sum which may seem insignificant in a profession when the likes of Lionel Messi can earn 67 euros per second, but which our club can ill afford. Nor does the right of appeal seem to me, on the face of it, to be particularly fair or transparent. My serious, polite question is this: Why? In these exceptional circumstances, when smaller clubs are under the threat of imminent demise, when our club did absolutely everything they could to mitigate against the chaos caused by an impossible situation, why has this fine been imposed? The postponements were a health and safety necessity - everyone involved in running the League will have been well aware that these situations would be absolutely unavoidable. So WHY are we, and other clubs being punished in this way? My wife and I buy season tickets every year; as an interested and concerned individual (ie A FAN), I have an interest in my club, and I want to know and understand EXACTLY what my club DID WRONG to receive this apparently absurd sanction. I also want you to know that were it not for the my club's extraordinary efforts last season, both on and off the pitch, and the empathy and selflessness of the chairman, staff and players with the vulnerable among our local community, many of us would have endured an even more unbearable experience than the one we did face. The club kept going, and largely because of this, so did we. I therefore respectfully request that your organisation withdraw what seems to be a completely unreasonable sanction. Much of my income finds its way into the EFL coffers directly and indirectly; as a customer and stakeholder therefore, I insist that the relevant parties explain the rationale behind this fine URGENTLY. I look forward to reading your response. Thank you, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Darwen, Lancs".