Carmarthen

Carmarthen Town AFC deducted 3 points after postponing match

Published

2 years ago

12th August 2021

Editor

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) have decided to deduct Carmarthen Town AFC 3 points after they failed to play a match against Risca United on Saturday 31 July.

Carmarthen Town had asked the FAW for a postponement of the JD Cymru South match, however the FAW’s National Leagues Board (NLB) met on Tuesday 10 August 2021 and decided that the “postponement failed to satisfy the criteria outlined in the ‘Positive COVID-19 Test Policy for National Leagues’ as approved by the National Leagues Board in conjunction with medical advice”.

In a statement, the FAW said: “The Policy protects the integrity of the competition, whilst still taking into account reasonable measures to protect Clubs and its players from COVID-19.

“In line with the Policy, Carmarthen Town had sufficient players to fulfil the fixture.

“As a result of their refusal to participate in the match, Carmarthen Town have been deducted three (3) points in the 2021/22 season and have been fined £1,000 (£500 suspended until the end of the 2022/23 season) in line with League Rule 3.7 and the Cymru South Scale of Fines.

“In addition, in accordance with League Rules 20.2, 20.3 and 20.4, Risca United are awarded £300 compensation for their journey made on the date of the match, payable by Carmarthen Town.”

A spokesperson for Carmarthen Town AFC said: “Carmarthen Town AFC are disappointed with the decision of the FAW with regards to the points deduction due to the First Team’s inability to fulfil the JD Cymru South fixture on Saturday 31st of July against Risca United.

“It was established on the morning of the match that the dressing rooms had been occupied by a staff member who began to show symptoms of Covid-19. It was considered, given the time allowed, that there would be insufficient time to disinfect all the rooms to a level that could guarantee the safety of all personnel. It was too much to ask a small group of volunteers to take such responsibility at short notice.

“We hope that such circumstances will not arise again and if that was to happen a similar decision may well be taken. Losing points is not as important as risking the health of playing staff and volunteers.”

(Lead image: Football Association of Wales)