Altrincham Football Club 18pt Fine

Was reading the BBC sport pages and came across this, a football club being fined 18pts for fielding an ineligible player. Now even without mitigating circumstances this is rather harsh, it becomes even more harsh when you realise that it was another club, Accrington Stanley that brought the player into the country without clearance from the English Football Association. Normally a lower division club such as Altrincham would not bother to check a players registration when signing from another English club, its not worth the hassel for what is basically a formality as obviously the player has already been granted permission to play for the previous club. Unfortunately in this case missing that check has meant that Altrincham have had all the points they gained while that player was playing for them deducted. Personally I feel this is an unduly harsh punishment for a mistake most clubs of that level could easily make and I have signed an online petition to express my opinion to the Conference management. Punish them yes, but not to the extent of relegating them, one player does not win a football match no matter how good, even Pele had help.

If you wish to sign the petition it can be found at http://www.petitiononline.com/ab1bc234/petition.html.

The original BBC text can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/altrincham/4927718.stm.

PS: I’m a Norwich City Fan, couldn’t even tell you where Altrincham is let alone support the club.