Tooro United FC Vs Vipers SC

Recap

(Decision: CDP No-10 of 2022) FIELDING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER

Circumstances of the Case.

Vipers S.C petitioned the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel contending that in the Startimes Uganda Premier league Match No 157 Tooro United vs Vipers S.C played on 11th/03/2022 at Buhinga Stadium, the home team Tooro United fielded an ineligible player Shirt No 26 Ronald Kayondo. To support its petition, Vipers S.C averred that player was ineligible to play the above-mentioned match due an accumulation of 3 bookings and up to that game, the player had not served the suspension before being fielded in match No 157 Tooro United vs Vipers S.C. The Club highlighted that the Player was cautioned in Match No 118 Onduparaka Vs Tooro, Match No 125 Tooro Vs Onduparaka, Match No 139 Tooro Vs S.C Villa. The Petition was forwarded to Tooro United F.C for its defence, the Respondent Club submitted its defence denying the player ever being cautioned or shown a yellow card in match No 125 Tooro vs Onduparaka, but later the Club changed its defence and stated that the Player was not cautioned in match no 139 Tooro Vs S.C Villa. The Competitions Disciplinary Panel requested, watched and critically analysed match recorded videos for the matches where Tooro United had contested the Cautions to Kayondo Ronald and confirmed with the position of the referee’s report that indeed the player Shirt No 26 Ronald Kayondo was cautioned and shown a yellow card in SUPL Match No 125 Tooro Vs Onduparaka, Match No 139 Tooro Vs S.C. Villa. Since match no 118 Onduparaka Vs Tooro was not in contention the panel took the position of the referee’s report that player was indeed cautioned.

Legal framework
The FUFA Competitions Rules: – Article 30(9) provides that a player who accumulates three (3) bookings in a league format and mixed format competition shall automatically become an ineligible player for the next one physically played match. Article 30 (15) Provides that the player shall remain ineligible for the match(es) until a suspension as stipulated above is served. Article 19(19) provides that a club that fields an ineligible player shall lose the match by forfeiture to the opposing team.

FINDINGS

1. That the Player Kayondo Ronald shirt No 26 was cautioned in three matches, in Match No 118 Onduparaka Vs Tooro played on 8th January 2022, Match No 125 Tooro Vs Onduparaka played on 8th February 2022 and Match No 139 Tooro Vs S.C Villa played on the 16th February 2022 respectively.
2. That Shirt No 26 Ronald Kayondo was fielded in SUPL Match No 157 Tooro United vs Vipers S.C played on 11th/03/2022 at Buhinga Stadium before serving the suspension. The Panel established that the Player remained ineligible to play match No 157 despite the fact he also played Match No 146 Police F.C vs Tooro United, not until the suspension is served the player remained ineligible as stipulated by Article 30 par 9 and 15 of the FUFA Competitions Rules.

DECISION
Accordingly, CDP took into consideration
i. The defence submitted by Tooro United F.C
ii. Precedents in regard to matters of the same nature.

AND HEREBY SANCTIONS TOORO UNITED FC for violation Article 30 par (9), (15) and Article 19(19) of the FUFA Competitions rules with :-

1. Loss of SUPL Match No 157 Tooro United F.C vs Vipers S.C played on the 11th March 2022 at Buhinga Stadium by Forfeiture as stipulated by the FUFA Competitions Rules. The three points and one goal earned by Tooro United from Match No 157 are declared invalid.

2. Vipers SC is hereby awarded three points and three goals as a result of Tooro United FC’s loss of the game by forfeiture.