TWO BLUES BACKFLIP ON COMPLAINT THREAT

LINDISFARNE Football Club has decided not to submit a formal complaint to the SFL regarding the controversial umpiring in Saturday’s preliminary final loss to Huonville.

The match featured three separate Two Blues players being sent from the field which led to playing coach Michael Cassidy publicly criticising the officiating and claiming the club would be making a formal complaint.

However, after the dust settled, the club decided not to submit a formal complaint but rather work with the SFL to resolve their concerns about the officiating.

While Lindisfarne did not raise an official complaint, they will have to answer a ‘please explain’ from league headquarters due to concerns raised by the Tasmanian Football Umpire’s Association which was displeased with the public criticism from Cassidy.

SFL president Russell Young said they had issued the ‘please explain’ to Lindisfarne on Tuesday and would allow the club three days to defend their actions in writing.

“We’ve issued them with a letter that asks them to tell us why we shouldn’t sanction them for their disparaging media comments per the SFL rules and regulations,” he said.

“We are hopeful of a positive outcome where we can sit down with Lindisfarne and the umpires and have an open and honest conversation to try and resolve the issues,” he said.

“These rules are in place to encourage teams to come to us to have a round-table discussion of their issues instead of firing off comments in the media and we are confident a positive outcome will arise from these discussions.”

jarrod.lawler@news.com.au