Within the next month I am expecting a letter instructing me to attend a meeting of the SAFA Disciplinary body at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

It might seem a minor issue but the fall out from any decision given could have a far reaching affect on Amateur Football. The lead up to this scenario in which my club are the innocent party is as follows, We were playing a top of the league clash with our main rivals away from home ,two pitches side by side on common ground known as the links. With 16 mins to go we were leading 2-1 , one of their guys was subbed , remarking to the official on the way off "That he was a effin tube", the official went over to the touchline where he requested the subbed player to move, he was met with a torrent of abuse from a spectator (alledgedly) the players father, the guy was agressive and the official felt that the manager did nothing to protect him, asking repeatedly for him to leave the line. The manager stated that the guy was a member of the public and was not involved in the club , he is an ex semi-pro and may have been signed on. Anyway the ref came to our side of the park and said he was going to abandon the game due to the behaviour and non cooperation of the other line. He abandonded the game, I appealed 24 hrs later and attended a meeting of the Leagues Committee last Tuesday ,where no decision was taken. The manager of the other club is a pretty shrewd cookie, (devious) and he if the decision goes against him will take it all the way to Glasgow. He is on the towns Feuar Management (Feu) > a right to use the land for a fixed annual payment, Scot`s Law . His defence appears to be on the lines of for example -: a game could be in progress and a member of the public could walk into the center circle with a 8 iron , hit a few balls,and there is nothing HE could do about it . technically he may be right, but I am sure if he was winning in a important game he would attempt to assist. If we lose this one it could send out the wrong signal to any team that play`s on a public park, Are the officials of the club responsible for behaviour of members of the public?, is it a police problem ?, any views on this one Dougal?, or anyone.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

Answers

A ruling in the league constitution could cover the preceeding ,but is it legal,?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

The best you can hope for is a ruling that states that if a referee abandons a game and he does so because of what he believes is a threatening stance from one party then the match result goes against the guilty party. Presumably if you're losing a game it doesn't really put you off, so there would have to be some punitive action as well, which for a league game may be a loss of points, or for a cup game something else I can't worj out at the moment.

I know the stories of west coast junior football matches getting out of hand are rife, can it be the same up there with the sheep ?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

Don't know the legal position Buff, but I believe the Ref made a mistake abandoning the game. In amateur games played in public spaces this kind of problem is always a possibility, and IMO the Ref should only abandon a game if he feels in personal danger, or the game has degenerated to the point where he is unable to exercise control.

I feel the authorities must uphold the result as it stood when the game was abandoned, for the reasons you have outlined.

When we lived in the US, my son played 'soccer' and I did a little coaching. I enjoyed working with the kids, but the patents tended towards over- involvement, and were a real pain in the proverbial.

In one game, the Ref got into an argument of the kid you've described with the opposing team's Coach, and they finished up rolling around punching and kicking each other. I dived in with several other parents to separate them, with their help sent the Ref off, and I ref'd the remainder of the game myself! The kids were only 12 yr olds mind.

Actually, one the biggest problems in the game over there at that time was the standard of officiating - unfortunately, many of the Refs truly didn't understand the laws of the game, which created some nonsensical situations.

Good luck with your 'problem'.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

Keep us posted on the outcome of this Buff. As I understand it the official abandoned the game after being subjected to aggressive and threatening behaviour from an individual who he evidently regarded as connected to the opposing club. They may argue he was just a member of the public but how much weight will the Committee give to the offical's perception at the time? Besides when 'supporters' of professional sides misbehave league officials frequently punish the club concerned. Why should your side miss out on 3 points because of some idiot who couldn't keep his temper?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

Stevo, Until 3 years ago I was part of another leagues disciplinary body and from experience I know that we went 90% with the ref`s report , the other 10% that went the other way, (verbal warning) were ones that the referee`s report of the incident was poor,a technicality or I felt the player was telling the truth. Just received a recorded del, 7.10 pm Tuesday night.

Shh don`t tell the missus, 4 days off, meeting above, meeting on Wednesday night, sponsors lounge, Highland Leaguev outfit Fraserburgh reference youth policy , ours that is , they then sign them on, lottery funds availible for semi - pro youth policy - grass roots nuthin or as Fergus McCann once said `Not a thin dime you get`

Friday might my club monthly meeting, better cancel the golf on Thursday , Footba Footba ye will be the death of me , is their any better way to go,? Silence Gav,!!Pint Lager packet crisps (Tudor) these days, bliddy overated anyhow,

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

Stevo - Awarded tie , we play same team in League Cup Final next Friday night.

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2001