NOT FAIR DINKUM
Aussie football heads to the courts
RELEGATION play-offs are a common occurrence in football: bottom teams from a higher tier face off against top clubs from the league below.
Usually, as is the way with pretty much everything in football, the result is decided on the pitch. However, two clubs in Australia may now be battling it out in the courtroom for a place in the second division.
Western Australia side Joondalup United are being denied promotion to the National Premier League under threat of a lawsuit - from relegated Subiaco AFC, whose place they should be taking.
United were crowned State League champions in September, securing promotion to the NPL, just one step below the top-tier A-League.
However, relegated Subiaco - who finished rock-bottom of the NPL - are flexing their financial muscle and have threatened to sue the league's governing body, Football West, over Joondalup's adherence to their eligibility criteria.
And much to the dismay of Joondalup and the wider Australian football community, Football West have buckled under the threat of legal action and put a block on promotion and relegation until 2017 over the tiniest of legal technicalities.
The governing body have stated Joondalup's choice of ground, the Percy Doyle Reserve, does not qualify as a 'compliant venue' in line with their regulations.
They claim the “in-principle” agreement Joondalup have with fellow tenants Sorrento FC and the City of Joondalup Council, approved by the latter party, is not substantial enough for the ground to be acknowledged as a compliant venue and a legality Subiaco are willing to sue over.
Yes, you read that right: the worst club in the league are trying to lawyer their way out of relegation – and it's working.
Rudy Proctor, Joondalup assistant manager and executive committee member, summed the whole thing up quite succinctly:“It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, as you can imagine.
“We’re devastated, absolutely devastated. Everybody is, especially the first team boys who have worked so hard this year to gain promotion,” he added.
Football West have so far declined to comment on the situation, but Subiaco president and lawyer-by-trade Mark Cheveralls has defended their decision.
“There’s no malice towards Joondalup United,” he said.“It’s about protecting Subiaco AFC and our members.
“We are in this to benefit youth, development and the people. I don’t care about what club they play at, our desire to develop the game remains.”
Not that all Subiaco’s players agree with the club’s actions. Mark Davis spoke out against his own club on Facebook, saying:“I wholeheartedly disagree with what our NPL team has done. No honour at all, you come bottom of the league, you should be relegated – simple as that.
“I am disgusted by Subiaco, and also appalled by Football West to allow this.”
He signed off his post with a subtle ‘#SubiacoToBeRelegated’ hashtag, if any one doubted his thoughts on the matter…
Despite threatening legal action – and in the process proving their legal team is possibly more potent than their actual players – Cheveralls is open to other ways of including Joondalup in the league.
Just as long as Subiaco aren’t relegated, of course.
“It might be timely under all the circumstances for Football West to think about a