Kells player’s ban halved
Last updated at 12:09, Thursday, 09 August 2012
AN amateur rugby league player who was banned from the game for two years for punching a fan has had his ban reduced to 12 months on appeal.
Martin Thompson, 27, was given the original ban by the Cumberland Amateur Rugby Legaue management committee two weeks ago as punishment for his role in the violence that erupted in a cup final at Lowca between his club, Kells A, and Flimby on July 14.
Mr Thompson left the field of play early in the second half to confront an opposing fan and a brawl ensued which resulted in the match being abandoned.
The player, who claimed to have been provoked by the behaviour of the opposing fans, took his appeal to the committee of the British Amateur Rugby League Association (Barla).
On Monday, the committee reduced the ban by a year, which rules Mr Thompson out until August 31, 2013.
The panel ruled: “On studying the officials’ reports, the panel accepted that the player had acted under extreme provocation from the Flimby touchline.
“The panel felt that an early intervention from the officials may have defused any potential flashpoint.”
First published at 11:11, Thursday, 09 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
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Did Roger Blair the CARLA chairman not say when Martin got a 2 year ban that the committee fully supported the referee and the actions he took ? "the BARLA panel felt that an early intervention from the officials may have deffused any flashpoint"Bit of a contridiction there !Did he further go on to say,we had to respond as a committee when you have young kids watching and something like this happens,they are impressionable "the BARLA panel then rules,On studying the officials reports the panel accepted that the player had acted under extreme provocation from the Flimby touchline"So the CARLA committee are more than happy to let kids listen to abuse being directed at a player all 1st half without any of their own officials who were present at the match intervening.Then when the player confronts the individuals and a brawl ensures he states its not good for the kids to see ! Perhaps if the committee took time to read the BARLA constitution which they have to adopt (section B 17.19) instead of blaming Flimby,Kells and Martin Thompson and in the process exonerting themselves of any blame they would see that section B 17.11 says Every organisation is required to take all necessary precautions to prevent assaults or threats on players or officials in connection with the game.Did the two officials take them precautions ? i think not.Never mind Flimby and Martin being charged with bringing the game into disrepute they should maybe start looking on their own doorstep !On a final note why did the panel direct that the appeal fee be returned ? i,am sure you can draw your own conclusions on that.
Posted by Impartial on 10 August 2012 at 13:49