Southern punished for leaving out name

A hectic weekend caused a Southern United player’s name to be left off a team list, costing the team three crucial points in the national football league.

New Zealand Football yesterday ruled that Southern fielded an ineligible player against Tasman United when they won 4-0 in their first game of the ISPS Handa Premiership season.

The player, believed to be Cameron Mackenzie, was registered in NZF’s digital management system and had signed a player agreement, but the player did not appear on the club’s official list of players.

Mackenzie had been on trial at Tasman before signing with Southern. He came on in the 46th minute, but did not score a goal.

Tasman protested his involvement and NZF found there was a breach of its rules.

‘‘Following a comprehensive review of the evidence including submissions made by Southern United, the NZF competitions administrator found that Southern United fielded one player not named on the club’s official list of players,’’ NZF said in a statement.

‘‘As a consequence of the player taking part, the match is declared to be forfeited by Southern United and shall be recorded as a 3-0 win for Tasman United.’’

The change in result dropped Southern from nine points to six, level with Tasman after they gained three points.

It saw Southern slip from second to sixth in a congested midtable, while Tasman move up to seventh from ninth.

Southern said yesterday they would be appealing the decision.

‘‘We feel there were strong mitigating circumstances, which involved key staff being on bereavement leave, it being an extremely busy weekend with the turf launch and Fifa visit, and several other factors including the fact that the players named had minimal impact on the end result of the game.