THE ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE can now reprimand players and officials who take to social media to vent their opinions and are found to have brought the game into disrepute.
The rule, not strictly confined to social media and also includes any public comment, is taken from the FAI Rule Book.
At tonight’s AGM, the new rule was discussed.
It reads: “Any registered player or club personnel with the Ulster Senior League, who has brought a game of football or Ulster Senior League into disrepute by any means – written, verbal, by action or otherwise shall be sanctioned with a suspension and/or fine and/or ban on performing any football related activity or other sanction deemed appropriate.
- Public comment and/or actions of the following nature may result in disciplinary sanction:
a) Comments and/or actions which are offensive or threatening in any way and/or
b) Comments and#or actions causing damage to the game of the Ulster Senior LEague or bringing the game or the Ulster Senior League in disrepute and/or;
c) Unsubstantiated allegations or comments which question the integrity of any person or body or are disparaging in any way;
d) Publication of material which questions the integrity of any person or body or are disparaging in any way.”
Elsewhere,Cockhill Celtic were crowned champions for the 2016/17 season, however, there was a little controversy. They were awarded a 3-0 victory – despite having been defeated 3-1 in January by Derry City Reserves, who it was later learned had fielded eight senior players.
Cockhill ended up winning the league by those three points, with Letterkenny Rovers in second place.
“While it was a season of positivity, in the main, it was disappointing that the League table finished with an asterisk beside it, owing to a penalty handed down,” penned PRO Chris McNulty in his annual report.
A player is termed as a senior if he has played four senior matches an clubs are allowed a maximum of three senior players per match.
“The Ulster Senior League runs across two League of Ireland seasons,” said Letterkenny Rovers delegate Eric White. “So does a player have to build up appearances to be termed a ‘senior player’ having played four matches? LAst year, Derry City made an administrative error. The problem arose from the fact there was an overlap between one Ulster Senior League season and two League of Ireland seasons, with us going back to winter football.”
Rule 50 was amended to: “A senior player is one registered under Rule 47 and any other player who has played more than four matches in the League of Ireland, Irish League or any nations league in their current season, as defined by the FAI rule book, with the exception of players who are under 19 years of age as defined by the FAI.
“These players will remain senior until the end of the current Ulster Senior League season. The current season shall be defined by the calendar year in which every league commences, as per the FAI Rule Book.”
Senior clubs will not be allowed to field trialists/ unregistered players as one of their three non-senior players in the months of January and February only. A motion from Finn Harps to that effect was defeated.
Elsewhere, the main conclusions from the various tabled motions are as follows:
A motion was carried in relation to any players who are selected for the FAI Inter-provincial Competition, who agree to take part in the Ulster Senior League’s squad but then renege on that agreement will be fined €30 and suspended for two league games. This, according to secretary Niall Callaghan is not a common problem and vice-chairman Patrick McLaughlin stressed it was to prevent “eleventh hour withdrawals.”
In regards fixtures, instead of clubs receiving their entire fixture list 28 days before the start of the season, they will now receive them on a monthly list 28 days in advance.
“We plan to give good notice,” registrar Jason Gibson said. “It’s just to provide a scope for change if needs be.”
Any club who fails to field will see the fine increased from €130 to €200, as well their opposition being awarded a walkover 3-0 win.
Should a club not fulfill two league fixtures, they will now be refereed to the Disciplinary Committee and not necessarily dismissed from the league.
Fines are also on the up. Failure by a club to provide the PRO with a detailed match report is now a €50 fine, up from €25.
Any player who picks up four yellow cards will be suspended for one match and fined €25 (previously €15). A further four cautions will lead to a three-match suspension and €50 fine, up from €30. All yellow cards will cost a club €2 and any player who had not reached four yellow cards by January 31, will therefore not be in line for a suspension until they pick up a fifth yellow card of the season.
Jason Gibson, registrar, said that last season there were 184 yellows cards and 15 reds from the 72 matches contested.
Also, a player who reaches an accumulation of yellow cards will now not be suspended for cup finals, instead their suspension will carry over to the next league game or the start of the following season.
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