Shouldn't cheaters be punished?
Firstly, I want to get a few things out of the way. This post is for everyone's benefit and it isn't an attack on the player or the club in question, but it is an attack on cheating; and in this case self-confessed cheating, from any player, official, or club.
I will be as thorough as I can and supply everyone with the full extent of the facts as I know them, and sources where these facts can be validated if you wish to check the validity. Read it, mull it over, I hope you are as shocked as I am (in the interests of the game here!). I will say what I have to say and that is all. I have no intention of replying to any posts ... but feel free to discuss the issue between yourselves.
This starts with a story most of you will be familiar with!
On June 24th Waterford United entertained Shelbourne at the RSC in a League game. The final score was 2-4 in favour of Shelbourne.
It turns out later; confirming some people's suspicions, that Shelbourne's Captain Owen Heary punched the ball into the Waterford net to give Shelbourne their third goal. How did this come to be known? Owen Heary admitted it. The article in which I found it, as well as the url at which it was once located is provided at the end of this post. I believe, it was also published in the national press.
Now, I'm not concerned with the debate on whether the ref. Alan Kelly would have given a penalty for another infringement anyway, or if Waterford would have held out for a draw, or that Alan Kelly should have done better (people are human and that's the inherent flaw of the system of match officiating).
The issue is as follows. I contacted the FAI to let them know about what Owen Heary admitted to (Judge me if you want; I don't care!). I was in contact with the consummately efficient Andy Needham (Andy's contact details are below for anyone who would like to have the facts verified) who said the FAI, Eircom League, and the prescribed disciplinary body were aware of his comments. Time passed by and I heard no more. I got in contact with Andy once more and Andy informed me that nothing could be done. He stated the reason the disciplinary board gave was the incident wasn't in the match officials' report, and as a result no action or sanction could be brought against Owen Heary.
Overturning the goal was always going to be unlikely. I have no memory of that action ever been taken in the League of Ireland. But surely any player who commits such an offence and then admits to it has to be guilty of at least bringing the game into disrepute. I think we are all aware that managers, players and club officials have to be very wary of what they say to the press vis-à-vis the performance of a match official. To criticise them brings sanctions, and rightly so ... we have to order in the League not some chaotic free for all. This is the accepted standard throughout the game internationally and domestically. So why can’t a player be punished in this instance.
We are still a long way, if ever, from using video or electronic assistance in controlling games. But when someone admits to what they have done there is no conflict of using technology that can be misinterpreted, there is no media hype, just someone admitting to what they did.
There should be punishment for this … it’s straightforward. It’s not for me to say what his punishment should be, but if none is given out I think we will see cheaters acting with greater impunity, safe in the knowledge that they can even admit to breaking the rules later and know they can get away scot free.
June 27, 2005
Shelbourne skipper Owen Heary has admitted that he punched the ball into the net for Shelbourne's crucial third goal against Waterford United on Friday night - but insisted that it would have been a penalty in any case for a prior offence by a Blues defender on the goalline.
Champions Shels ended a run of five league games without a win with a 4-2 triumph over struggling United at the RSC.
Heary, who returned to action following injury in the game, fired his side 3-2 in front after 67 minutes of the game - but then admitted he handled the ball to the Waterford net.
He said: "Just before it their player handled it on the line. The referee was going to give the penalty but he just let the goal stand.
"I said 'If he can get away with it I can too' so I punched it into the net. I'm not going to deny it. Sometimes you get things like that and it changes a game."
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/shelbou...l.asp?newsid=1
Andy Needham; the Eircom League's Media & Public Relations Officer (Tel +353 1 7037548, Mob +353 87 2441326, Fax +353 1 6768096, Email andy.needham@fai.ie).
