I think that the directors of Lewes have made a huge mistake. I don't know the true facts but if the player told Enfield that he had seven or eight yellow cards they shouldn't have played him until they knew for certain whether he was eligible to play. The FA are not brilliant but they are consistent and won't appreciate Lewes interfering.
Unless Lewes have done something similar this season, and think they may be found out and dropped into a relegation spot, then I don't see what it has to do with them.
There is a lot of information available as to what happened. We know that Enfield got the FA's agreement that the matter was resolved months ago i.e. with no charge - The club were told by the FA that the player should miss the following two games when the error was highlighted (by Enfield), and the players served his suspension then. Months later the matter was re-opened. .
And even then, the FA decided only to issue a 'warning' to Enfield which itself is unusual. This is because they can see that it was their own poor systems that enabled the error (of fielding a suspended player) to occur. Because the FA have only issued a warning, there was no need for the Ryman League to deduct points.
Some people may well feel they should keep out of it or are perhaps fearful that the league will get its own back in the future but I am glad Lewes have spoken out. Who knows, one day it might be Hastings that is being victimized. Who will speak up for you?
I know what you mean. BUT the Ryman league have a rule agreed by all its clubs that if a player plays and is subsequently found ineligible then points won in that game are deducted. It is possible that Enfield have been harshly treated, but the rule is there. If its not applied then met police have a case to appeal. Its is not for other clubs to get involved, remember also that clubs appoint a management committee each year to conduct and run the league.
Whatever the final outcome the FA appear to have been incompetent at best.
I think that the application of those rules can be so arbitrary that they deserve to be challenged. These things seem to raise the head on an annual basis that the disciplinary process is not fit for purpose.
No the time for challenging them is for clubs to get together and to challenge at the leagues agm. What would we be saying if it was us in the Met Police position. Enfield knew they had made a mistake, the FA appear to have acted poorly and the league have applied their rules. Its a mess, and really the only winners are those that call the fa a shambles.
This has now been posted on the official Ryman League website:
The Ryman League's Premier Division play-offs will kick off on Thursday night after the Football Association dismissed Enfield Town’s appeal on Tuesday.
As a result, Thursday's semi-finals will see Hendon host the Metropolitan Police with Margate at home to Dulwich Hamlet.
Both matches will kick off at 7.45pm with the winners meeting in the play-off final on Sunday in a 3pm kick-off.
A further statement will be issued by the Ryman League in due course.
An utter balls up as once again off pitch incompetence by those supposedly administering football show just how clueless they are - and out of touch with those who play and follow the semi pro game. Whatever the rights and wrongs it is the having taken so long to sort this out that is unforgiveable. Almost as bad as what happened to Thurrock a couple of seasons ago when a supposed wrong doing in August 12 was punished just after that season had finished 9 months later - a 3 point deduction which was enough to relegate Thurrock who had finished a point clear of the drop - they thought......
