Question Number: 30326

League Specific 4/20/2016

RE: Amateur Adult

Bradley Makoni of Harare, Harare Zimbabwe asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30325

Thank you.

What would be a possible suitable punishment for this offence in an amateur league?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

It's really not for us as referees to say - it is completely up to the local authorities, and they will decide on a case by case basis - taking into consideration any previous similar incidents in this competition or by this team/club, the general behaviour of the team/club/player, the competition rules, history of other decisions, and any particular statement they want to make.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the team lose competition points and the player have his suspension lengthened, as well as a fine for the team. Some areas do fine teams, some don't. Some areas fine players, some don't. They may only decide to take away any competition points earned that game, they may want to take away more as additional punishment. It's really hard to say.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bradley
The answer depends on the attitude of the League Disciplinary Committee to any offence and the clubs explanation to the event along with what is possible under the Leagues competition rules. Generally when a team plays an illegal player it results in a loss of points and / or a fine.
Now that does not happen in all situations.
Here is a newspaper report of five such instances
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/sunderland-afc/latest-safc-news/five-cases-of-clubs-being-docked-points-for-fielding-ineligible-players-1-6543534
Sunderland escaped a points deduction for playing Ji Dong-Won when the player was ineligible to play. I suspect it may have been an international clearance issue with the club pleading perhaps a plausible reason / explanation for the technical offence. Playing a player though while under suspension would not be looked at favourably.