Grass roots. Who is the mod?

What makes you think the FFA are looking at a B League/FFA Cup in the first place??

Enough said.

Case has been heard. Judgement to be made next week.

from another forum

I wouldn't be so quick to jump to any conclusions. It is the Victorian Justice system afterall :)

Its sad it got this far, from both sides, but it has and now there will definately be losers in this. Some would say both will be losers really, as any win to SMFC will ultimately cost them by reduced spending by the FFV on other programs, due to court costs having to be paid.

Its time the FFA, FFV and all clubs got together and sorted things out, for the betterment of the game.

Just scrap the FFV, and let NSW take the best Clubs in Victoria :D :D :D

hehe.. a mutiny might get the FFV off its ass lol

That's been my attitude all week. In terms of what's written in the FFV contracts, things look good for them. In terms of just about all organised appeal systems, things look good for us.



It IS sad that it got to this stage. If we lose it'll be a big kick in the bank for us. But if we win - whilst it may lead to a reduction in spending by the FFV, it may also lead to 'regime' change at the top level, which on the evidence of the last couple of years could only be a good thing.

Definitely agree with the last comment - but it's perhaps noteworthy that whilst SMFC's original action listed the FFV and FFA, the club voluntarily removed the FFA from procedings. I may be reading too much into this - but it strikes me that either

(a) the club did what was best for Australian football by not risking pissing FIFA off with legal action against the national sporting body, or
(b) the FFA put pressure on the club, in which case it's interesting that they didn't put the same pressure on them to pull back from action against the FFV.

Perhaps the FFA feel that the FFV had over-stepped their place?
Perhaps the FFA are angling to run things at Victorian State level as well?

Perhaps this is a good thing... Better administration at state level, etc., as with the national game.

Perhaps it's a bad thing... They come in and sweep the state leagues up the way they swept up the national competition, and the 'ethnic' clubs end up playing in provisional league!

Wouldn't be the worst idea in the history of the game. A move toward a 2nd tier competition as well, which would be of benefit to the A-League.

I like it.\:d/

There is definately something going on at a Higher level at this stage, we are unable to join the dots, one thing is for certain, the dots would be alot easier to join without the FFV's current policies.

Too many bad apples and self centred ones in there at the moment, the need to go.

Unfortunately the FFV would likely hold the same view about SMFC. It all depends on what side you sit on.

Thats the sad part, both think they are right.

I thought we discussed this already - you never substantiated this claim

I reckon every local club and fan in Victoria are hoping South screw over the FFV in the Supreme Court. FFV are a farce of the highest order. It's just one disaster after another from them. The local game has suffered massively due to their total incompetence.
It's sad and crazy its got to this stage BUT someone needed to take a stand against those inept fuckers.

News just in details from another reliable source.

I wouldn't put it past them to wait for the result of Wednesday's Dandenong-Northcote 'replay', then re-convene the tribunal, find us guilty of being South Melbourne, and take just enough points to keep us out of the finals. They've been petty so far, why stop now?

Seems to be more action in the courts than on the pitch nowadays.

Starting to buy the Law Review now for my local Football news.



Edited by Arthur: 17/8/2010 12:06:27 PM

Edited by Arthur: 17/8/2010 12:07:08 PM

Gotta love it.

It needs to be clarified that it isn't the deduction of points that has been critised so much as the way they were deducted (without advanced warning, therefore without the opportunity for SMFC to defend itself). All of the other deductions, as dumb as some of them were, were made after pre-arranged hearings - none of which were appealed at the time.

It is the PROCESS rather than the PENALTY that was challenged in court.

The FFV could, if they wish, advise the club that they intend on re-hearing the matter on Thursday night, hear it, and still impose a 6 point deduction (or more, or less).

I'm not sure that any of the other teams actually has due cause to challenge their deductions.

Its all good in love and war it seems lol

Interesting news. Its funny though that the FFV can just go back, rectify its process mistake and do it all again, like rewinding the past, doing it right, and giving the same punishment.

Very strange. The fact that it was heard, the punishment was given with the wrong process used, means that a line should be drawn in the issue.

Edited by heart_fan: 17/8/2010 01:31:21 PM

I have to add, considering many of the comments at the start of this thread, that the club's decision to take this to the courts (whether the FFV re-hear the matter or not) has now been fully justified. And also, everyone should note that the FFA's position with FIFA was ultimately not damaged as no legal action was ultimately made against the sport's national govering body.

challenging smfc at a court is silly and if they come to the same result that's what will basically happen - the whole place is like a who's who in the legal world - not just the board - but many fans as well

Nnother big impact is the ruling that the FFV will wear the full cost of the proceeding which is estimated at almost $40k

If they are in the mood for another bill of this type or larger and also to stall the final series.....they can do whatever they think

I think you will find that the original result will stand......"for the good of the game" - perhaps a 3 point deduction

There will definately be some movements at the FFV come season's end - these idiots just give themselves an annual wage increase of 20% - start browsing career.com fellas

the game will not be held hostage by your internal - this season has been an absolute joke

another place to read the decision:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/vic/VSC/2010/355.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=%22South%20Melbourne%20football%22

I think you will find the process was wrong, not that the law found the punishment was definately wrong.

They are 2 totally different things.

I agree that the FFV needs to change its ways, but even if that happens, will the clubs also come to the party and co-operate. Not everything will go the way of everyone afterall.

We need a 2 way street, that people actually respect the rules of. Its about confidence.

Also, that 40K numer will ultimately affect football in geeral in this state, as its money that will not be invested in the game.

Unfortuntely, 2 hard heads, or egos, butting into each other never end up well:)

Edited by heart_fan: 17/8/2010 04:59:14 PM

Just from reading that it comes across as the FFV/appeals board were making charges up on the run to garuntee punishment for the club. Which for me is an embarssing abuse of power.

Hopefully this come as a sign that the ffv needs a good clean out.

Any changes should not be alloowed to be retrospective, and should only consider cases which happened after the implemented measures are put in place.

Edited by heart_fan: 17/8/2010 05:15:15 PM

As expected, the 'fair' and 'impartial' FFV hearing tonight, at which the charges were re-heard, found SMFC guilty again, and imposed the same 6 point deduction.

We proved our point, that the system is f*cked, then the FFV demonstrated just how f*cked by taking 6 hours to come up with the same decision and the same penalty as before. The six hours consisting mainly of them dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' to make sure they couldn't get their arses smacked in public again.

i have a question regarding the FFV Board

How can the maintain their positions when nobody wants them there?

As for the case - it was soo obvious that their inly agenda was to save their reputuation - the case itself was an actual joke

Football in this country is fucked