Torquay Field Unregistered Player

AsFc62 · 03-02-2011, 12:11

BBC Sport - Football - Torquay United field unregistered player

Attached is the official thread from BBC Sport.

Surely, given that we were thrown out of the JPT for the same problem, you would think that the football league would come down on them quite heavily. My guess would be a points deduction within the region of 12-15points.

cashman · 03-02-2011, 12:33

would imagine a points deduction is a knocking bet.

JEFF · 03-02-2011, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsFc62

BBC Sport - Football - Torquay United field unregistered player

Attached is the official thread from BBC Sport.

Surely, given that we were thrown out of the JPT for the same problem, you would think that the football league would come down on them quite heavily. My guess would be a points deduction within the region of 12-15points.

We were NOT thrown out of the JPT, we withdrew. The first time we got done for having an unregistered player I think we only got fined. We have made plenty of mistakes since we have been in the Football League and we have never had a points deduction so let's not wish too much misfortune on Torquay for what was probably an innocent mistake.

cashman · 03-02-2011, 13:17

Don't wish em any misfortune jeff, just very much doubt if that will apply to the F.L. as fer our withdrawal, was it a case of jump before pushed?

Whalley Red · 03-02-2011, 13:24

This is from our past (see news archive on fishy site):

Football League Disciplinary Hearing ( Friday 30th Mar 2007 )

Stanley fined but no points deduction

Accrington Stanley have been fined £12,000 for fielding two ineligible players, of which £6,000 will be suspended, however we will not lose any points. Now the case has been heard Accrington Stanley are delighted to finally be in a position to release full details of the cases brought against us.

BACKGROUND

The club had known about the charges brought against us for the last couple of months, however we had always felt that it was always better to keep the story out of the media to prevent struggling clubs attempting to put pressure on the Football League.

Of course this was demonstrated when the story did break with an individual from one club threatened with relegation urging the Football League to take points from us through the press and radio, somewhat disappointing as we would like to think that as a club we would have been supportive of a club of a similar size to ourselves who were threatened with a points deduction for such a technicality, or at least to have kept quiet if we had a clouded history ourselves. We have always believed it important to remember that Accrington Stanley has never sought to cheat or to bypass the rules of the game, let alone the laws of the land.

As a club we don’t try to hide things unnecessarily and at the end of the day people who come to the games and pay money to the club should be entitled to know what is going on, however when the story did break we were advised by our legal team to issue the short statement that we made on our website and then wait till after the hearing before putting our side of the story out to the press. It was actually very difficult not to be able defend the club’s position, particularly in light of what we felt were minor technicalities that could perhaps have been dealt with quickly and simply by pointing out our error and allowing us to rectify the situation.

CHARGE ONE – MARTIN FEARON

The club has run a youth programme for the last two years, giving 16 year olds the chance to join a professional football club while at the same time receiving a good quality education at the local college. In our first season we signed up over twenty school leavers with the Conference education system, and then the following year with our promotion back to the Football League we were also able to take on eleven apprentices. The first and second year youth team players were to all intents and purposes on the same programme. They trained together and they all signed the same dual registration form that enabled them to play in the Football League Puma Youth Alliance and the Pontins Holidays Reserve League, however there was one difference that we were unaware of. Despite the fact that they trained together, went to college at the same time and played in the same matches, youth team players that were taken on in the second year were eligible to play in first team matches, but players who were with us the previous season were not. Martin was only an unused substitute in the game against Wrexham, had no influence on the game. As soon as we were informed about the issue Martin signed a non contract form allowing him to be named in subsequent first team matches.

CHARGE TWO – CHRIS MCGRAIL

Chris McGrail is a Preston North End youth team player who had recently featured on the bench for their first team, just as our youth team players signed this season can play in our first team. It is not possible to sign a player on loan if he hasn’t signed a professional contract with his club, however in our first season in the Nationwide Conference we took Darren Kempson from Preston on work experience terms. Although this is allowable under Football Association rules in terms of contractual regulations, we later learnt that it is not permissible under Football League rules. We did however have a number of arguments against the charges of fielding an ineligible player, most notably that there is no mention of this in the rules in the Football League handbook, simply a line in the secretary’s handbook which is to all intents and purposes a guidance document, and also that our secretary had called the Football League on the afternoon of the first match that Chris featured in and was told that the paperwork was in order.

CONCLUSION

Accrington Stanley are satisfied with the outcome of the case. We may have been guilty of technicalilties that breached regulations however we have never sought to cheat or circumvent the rules of the competition or the laws of the game. We accept the fine for the breaches and we now look forward to the remaining seven games this season.

Whalley Red · 03-02-2011, 13:29

The Torquay player scored, but they still lost the game, so a fine rather than points deduction would be appropriate and consistent IMO.

cashman · 03-02-2011, 13:33

agree whalley red, hope the F.L.does.

shakermaker · 03-02-2011, 13:50

Although I wouldn't wish a points deduction on them, I do find it puzzling how Torquay found out about the player being inelligible within the first 10 minutes of the game yet kept him on for the full 90. The player could easily have scored an equalising or even a winning goal. Of course, the offence had already been committed, but they must've known that substituting the boy was the ethical thing to do, and may have encouraged some lenience from the FL.

AsFc62 · 03-02-2011, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEFF

We were NOT thrown out of the JPT, we withdrew. The first time we got done for having an unregistered player I think we only got fined. We have made plenty of mistakes since we have been in the Football League and we have never had a points deduction so let's not wish too much misfortune on Torquay for what was probably an innocent mistake.

Ahh sorry thought it was a forced withdrawal my bad. I don't wish any bad on Torquay, like you have mentioned it was an honest mistake otherwise it would just be stupid with sanctions being possible.

Perhaps, 12-15 points would be a little harsh

However, there have been cases in the past when teams have been deducted points for the same offence. Hartlepool were deducted 3pts last season, so im guessing this is the most likely issue, It would drop them to within five points of the League Two relegation zone, although they do have games in hand.

maccawozzagod · 03-02-2011, 17:13

no doubt Altrincham will be on the phone to the FA to say that as the player once drove through Accrington it must be our fault!

AsFc62 · 03-02-2011, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

no doubt Altrincham will be on the phone to the FA to say that as the player once drove through Accrington it must be our fault!

Hhahahaha they were deducted 18 points a few seasons back for playing an ineligible player..... for 13 games. Now that is stupid.

maccawozzagod · 03-02-2011, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsFc62

Hhahahaha they were deducted 18 points a few seasons back for playing an ineligible player..... for 13 games. Now that is stupid.

and they signed him from ......

Lost in Cornwall · 05-02-2011, 19:40

The usual thing is to deduct any points gained whilst playing an unregistered player. Torquay lost so no points to deduct. I think a fine will be the punishment.

Haggis316 · 06-02-2011, 20:33

Stanley's ordeal 4 years ago is too fresh in the memory. Then my other team had one too many loan players in the match squad against Stoke.

I certainly do not wish a points deduction on Torquay and I hope they have any spectre of it removed quickly.

Redraine · 08-02-2011, 09:11

Billy Kee on fire!

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Torquay 2-0 Stockport