hah


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article South's Appeal Falls On Deaf Ears?
SOUTH Melbourne has been docked six points for charges stemming from the abandonment of its round six clash with Heidelberg United due to a pitch invasion.

Have your say.

As i said on the other thread - I can't understand why we appealled the first time.

However, when you look at the full details of the appeal (posted on the other thread), and see that the appeal itself was upheld and all previous findings overturned (original 3 point deduction cancelled, etc.) - then a NEW charge raised, and the club docked 6 points for that one... It does seem strange.

As one of the boys pointed out on facebook - having now taken 18 points off various clubs in the league this season, the FFV are currently sitting in 4th on their own table and on target to make the finals!!

South will make it with teams outside the top three falling over.

What was the story behind the other point deductions for dandy, knights, etc. The FFV ladder quoted a breach of rule 1.6 which had to do with scheduling a game when there is an A-League match on....sounds like a shit way to be docked points.

Introducing a new charge and not allowing a club to do any homework in the lead up to the appeal is ludicus - especially considering the penalty

A few on the board have taking this quite personally and are exploring court proceedings - not sure if this is just a reaction to the result - or if they will persue the matter in court

This has set a huge precedent - it will be interestin to see the outcome in similoar situations

Imagine how Heidelberg feels about this - they have had their fate delivered by this independent board and will be relegated andf they could not even defend themselves - the FFV are falling apart

south will recover nonetheless

I was of the understanding that it was a financial issue - something to do with not paying fees due by a certain date. Not sure though.

Benjamin is right. Knights, Heidelberg and Hume were deducted three points prior to the season starting for this reason.

South lost six points because of the pitch invasion and Dandenong lost three because of abuse hurled at an assistant referee against Sunshine George Cross.

Anyone know what the abuse was? I think back over the years at the abuse thousands of fans have hurled at officials and the mind boggles to think how many points and fines could have been amassed!!

Official word: Misconduct / MFP6 (Second ‘Serious’ Offence**) for Offences against Match Officials as a result of its Club Associates allegedly directing intimidating and/or threatening language and/or gestures towards a Match Official(s)

It was a second serious offence and I wouldn't be surprised if the first was earlier this season.

They also copped a $4,000 fine and are playing next two home games behind closed doors.

How much worse can it get:

They (the board) decide to appeal a decision that supporters believed was favorable- and lost and cost us
They continue to go down the road of challenging/appealing the ffv
The Club has trouble controlling its supporters (remember zero tolerance) and unable/not willing to do anything
The Club has a number of massive distractions, hardly the environment to win VPL
HAHAHA home ground WE DONT HAVE ONE AT MOMENT

The Club needs to get back to basics and start repairing relationships with football authorities and focus on football

In fairness, on the "home ground" issue - the deal that's in place is a massive tribute to those running the club. It's going to be sticky for the next year or so, but once the work is finished at BJS we'll have an excellent stadium with quality facilities.

Not sure what was going on with the appeal - but the fact that all of the original charges were thrown out indicates that they actually got it right. It was the surprise aditional charge that stuffed things up. The next appeal would most likely be over whether it is legal to bring new charges simply because your old ones were proven to be weak.

The only real distraction is the S-Cup, and that will be out of the way soon. On the pitch, save for the 6 points the FFV have taken, they're going alright.

I must say Benjamin your support for the club cannot be questioned but sometimes you need to ask questions instead of supporting actions which are clearly flawed.

The actions of a few and many on that particular day could have led to catastrophe for the club. Why do you disguise the facts. On top of that, the path the Club has chosen could lead to even more punishment?

But even if the club did not appeal, the FFV was already launching an investigation into the Heidelberg clash were they not?

Therefore, South would have copped all the punishments, including the three charges they successfully defended.

There is no way the awarding of a 3-0 win to Heidelberg was going to be the end of the punishment for the club?

I still cannot understand what the Club is doing?
On one hand they take a zero tolerance approach……on the other hand it appeals on behalf of the supporters who screwed the club!!!
Please explain what the hell am l missing???
Look at media releases


MEDIA RELEASE: SOUTH MELBOURNE FC CONTINUES ITS ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON PITCH INVADERS
Thursday, 15 April 2010 11:58 PM

South Melbourne FC has completed a thorough internal investigation of the invasion of the pitch by a small number of its fans during the final minutes of the match against Heidelberg United FC on Sunday 11 April 2010.
In line with its ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ regarding such incidents, the Club has identified the individuals involved and has taken swift and appropriate action.
The Board has handed down appropriate penalties, with the most serious offenders being banned unconditionally for up to 5 years from attending all future South Melbourne FC home matches. In addition, all pitch invaders will be fined by the Club for their role in the incident.
South Melbourne FC will continue to enforce its zero tolerance policy against any and all unacceptable conduct by any spectator which is also consistent with the provisions of its ‘Code of Conduct’ applying to its Senior and Junior Teams, as well as Junior Parents, and Members. The Board is satisfied that it has taken the appropriate steps to deal with this incident in a timely manner, and the Club is cooperating with the FFV’s investigation.
For more information, please contact Nick Galatas, South Melbourne FC Chairman on 9645 9797 or media@smfc.com.au.

MEDIA RELEASE: SMFC'S RESPONSE TO APPEALS BOARD DECISION
Thursday, 20 May 2010 9:54 AM

The Club wishes to announce that the FFV Appeals Board released its decision on the Club’s appeal in relation to the FFV Tribunal decision on the charges arising out of its recent match against Heidelberg United FC. The Appeals Board also published its reasons for its decision.
Although South Melbourne FC was successful in relation to all 3 matters it appealed, the Appeals Board substituted a new charge and found the Club guilty of it. The Club was deducted 6 points in relation to that charge.
The Club appealed the finding of guilt in relation to Fixed Penalty Charge MFP10, the life bans imposed on 3 of its supporters and the result of the match which had been awarded as a 3 – 0 win to Heidelberg.
The Appeals Board found the Club not guilty of charge MFP10, drastically reduced the bans in relation to the 2 supporters who pursued the appeal and reinstated the result to 1-1 which was the score when the match was abandoned in time added on for injuries. By way of clarification, the club advises that it appealed on behalf of its supporters because they had not been separately charged and had been given life bans by the Tribunal in their absence. As they had not been charged, the club lodged the appeal on their behalf.
Despite wholly succeeding on the 3 matters it brought before the Appeals Board, the club was advised in the reasons for decision published by the Board that it was found guilty of a different offence relating to the invasion of the pitch by its supporters and was deducted 6 points.
The Club is disappointed at the decision and intends to appeal.


The honest supporters of this club are sick and tired of double standards.

I'm led to believe that the Knights were docked points b/c they refused to pay for and attend last years Gold Medal night!!!!
The FFV are putting on the awards nights and wants the clubs to pay for it as well, like they don't collect enough in fees, rego's, fines etc etc etc etc to put a 'party' on. Fucking scumbags haven't had a naming sponsor or spent anything on promoting the comp in the past 3-4 years.
The FFV are like the over zealous traffic police nowdays. You know like those $150 speeding fines +1 demerit point some people get for doing 105km on an empty freeway at 4.30am in the morning on the way to work..............

The docking of points should only be used in the most extreme, extreme of cases, eg, referee assaults, full on riots etc. None of the points that those morons at the FFV have deucted SO FAR this season can be seriously be justified. They are destroying what could be a pretty decent comp and clubs futures with petty beauracracy.

They are a complete and utter disgrace.

I have no idea why the Board appealed? They should have known that the penalty could be increased as well as decreased. Dont they have lawyers on the Board? Anybody that was at the game and witnessed the pitch invasion would have been happy with the original penalty received.

Of course if you read the unofficial smfcboard it is an ffv conspiracy again! Did the ffv or ffa conspire with the pitch invaders?? Seriously!! The Club has courted that group of supporters and given them influence and prominance for a long long time. Perhaps the club didn't have a choice. When a club only has a few hundred supporters a group of 40 to50 is quite a significant bloc of support for the club and the Board!

The whole thing is a disgrace and those responsible must be made accountable!!!

If you look earlier in the thread I said that the club shouldn't have appealed the initial penalties. A pitch invasion in a relative high profile match is bad news... The confrontation with the keeper was just dumb. Challenge the FFA after a reasonable set of penalties... Well, play with matches and you get burned, etc.

I also said on other threads - immediately after the event - that the actions of the supporters were lunacy, and they should have had life-bans.

I don't understand why the club would go to the FFV and seek to overturn life-bans for a couple of nuggets who couldn't control themselves.

But aside from all of these - it's a question of due procedure. The FFV made charges against the club, the club appealed the initial findings and WON. That's due procedure. Then the FFV moved the goalposts and brought in new charges... That's NOT due procedure. That's moving the goalposts.


Edited by Benjamin: 26/5/2010 10:43:23 PM