Longlevens Reserves advance in Reg Davis Cup after appeal for shoot-out error is dismissed
On Wednesday night, Longlevens Reserves beat Dursley Town on penalties to advance in the Reg Davis Cup, however news spread the following day that an incorrect decision from the official would see an appeal from the visitors.
Following the tie ending 1-1 in 90 minutes, the match official incorrectly sinbinned the Dursley Town keeper, Ben Jagger, during the shoot-out – which Longlevens ultimately went on to win.
On Monday morning, the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League confirmed in a statement that Dursley had lodged an appeal, seeking for the tie to be replayed in full as the sinbin breached the Laws of the Game.
The GNSL have confirmed that after the appeal was rejected, Dursley have rejected the opportunity to appeal further to the GFA, allowing the result to stand.
In the statement, the league say the following:
“The Appeal was determined by a sub-committee of three League Officers appointed under the Rules of the Competition. Each Club and the Match Referee submitted written evidence to the sub-committee for their deliberation.
The basis of the Appeal related to the Match Referee making the decision, during the taking of the penalties, in sending the Dursley Town goalkeeper to the ‘sin bin’, for showing dissent, whereas the Laws of the Game stipulate such transgression during the taking of penalties should only have lead to the sanctioning of the player by issuing formal disciplinary action by way of caution/dismissal.
Taking into account all the facts available before them, including that the Match Referee admitted making a genuine mistake in his application of Law, plus the penalty score at the time of ‘sin binning’; the decision of the sub-committee was to dismiss the appeal to have the cup tie replayed.
The possibility of re-enacting the taking of penalties was contemplated, but this was considered to be impractical with regards to the circumstances prevailing of using the same players originally involved (those who had participated in the actual drawn match after 90 minutes, and accordingly the only ones who were eligible to take penalties in accordance with the Laws of the Game).
Whilst Dursley Town were notified they had the Right of Appeal to the Gloucestershire FA, they have informed the GNSL that they accept the decision made in dismissing their Appeal in this matter, and wish Longlevens Reserves the best in the Competition.”
Longlevens Reserves will now move on to face Bibury in the Quarter Final of the Reg Davis Cup this Wednesday (14th August).
