CS Old Boys v German All Stars – 5 November 2006: Red Card given to German All Stars Player – Appeal Against Penalty

In November the Disciplinary Sub-committee (DSC) handed down a ban of 6 matches and a $1,000 fine to a German All Stars player for kicking an opponent who was lying on the ground. The German All Stars appealed against the penalty on the grounds that the reports by the match official and CS Old Boys suggested that their player might have deliberately and violently “kicked” the opponent, when in fact there was no serious violent intent in the player’s action.

The DSC consulted CS Old Boys and the referee of the match for further clarification of the incident.

On the basis of the clarification from CS Old Boys, further substantiated by comments from the referee, the DSC concluded that the conduct in question was of a far less serious nature than it had inferred from written reports, in that there was no serious violent intent. This was therefore was considered to be a far less serious offence of violent conduct than originally determined.

Under Disciplinary Guideline 4, the minimum penalty for violent conduct is a further two-match suspension, in addition to the automatic one-match ban for receiving a red card. Having reviewed this case, the DSC decided that it was appropriate to apply the minimum penalty, in other words, a further two-match suspension, in addition to the one-match ban that the player had already served.

In addition, the DSC considered that the standard fine of $500 for a red card should apply.

Wilson Hon
Secretary, Yau Yee League