Blooming hell - hope this doesn't set a precident
A referee who abandoned an under-16s match after an all-in brawl
between players has been ordered to pay the costs of a tribunal that
cleared both teams of any misconduct.
The referee called off
the match, played in Sydney between the under-16 teams of Blacktown
Spartans and Rockdale City Suns, after a fight broke out between
players and a spectator invaded the pitch.
However, while
officials from both clubs agreed the referee was within his rights to
abandon the game, a Football New South Wales tribunal investigating
events launched a scathing attack on match officials claiming to be
'unimpressed with the standard and veracity of evidence provided by all
three referees in this matter'.
The investigation subsequently
found Blacktown Spartans and Rockdale City Suns not guilty of
misconduct but ordered the Nepean District Soccer Referees Association
pay a $550 'administration fee' to cover costs of the tribunal.
A
copy of the 'Notice of Determination' filed by the FNSW General
Purposes Tribunal obtained by The World Game claims 'a message needs to
be sent to the referees that the quality and truthfulness of their
evidence is pivotal to maintaining good order and discipline in the
sport'.
The report explains a fight broke out during the second
half of the match after 'serious foul play' which resulted in two
players being dismissed.
Other players on the pitch became involved
in the fight - accounts differ as to whether the players were fighting
or breaking up the brawl - while one spectator, a Blacktown under-16
player suspended from this match for previous misconduct, attempted to
join the 'brawl'.
The tribunal, however, noted that evidence provided by match officials 'directly contradicted' that provided by both clubs.
The
World Game understands morale among state level match officials is low,
especially in the light of another recent incident where it has been
alleged FNSW Vice-President Sam Krslovic seriously intimidated a
referee after a State League game between Sydney United and Manly
United.
That incident is scheduled to go before the FNSW General Purposes Tribunal when Krslovic returns from overseas this month.
FNSW
have informed match officials involved in the Blacktown-Rockdale
incident that the tribunal's decision can be appealed and emphasised
the disciplinary committee is independent of the state governing body.
�The
General Purposes Tribunal is at arms length from the management and the
Board of Football NSW,� said a FNSW official. �This has been done to
allow for matters to be dealt with on merit and free of the political
interference of the past.�
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/abandoned-match-costs-ref-132609/
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is what i say to that!