Followers of welfare football in Moray were shocked this week when a blatant rule breach led to a club being thrown out of a summer competition and a player suspended for at least 18 months.
While the case of an illegal player turning out for Elgin Caledonian in a cup tie will not be quite as costly as Celtic’s restoration to the Champions League after opponents Legia Warsaw fielded a player still under suspension, the principals remain the same.
In a statement on their website this morning, the Forres and Nairn Welfare Football Association (FNWFA) revealed that Uncle Bobs had been awarded a 2-0 victory despite their losing their recent McIntosh Rosebowl match to their Elgin rivals.
An investigation by the league into claims that an illegal player had been fielded in the tie between the sides revealed that not only had the player not been signed by Elgin Caledonian in time for him to qualify as one of their players, he was already signed for a rival club – and was fielded in the cup tie under another player’s name!
In a statement today on their official website the association said: “As a result, Elgin Caledonian have been excluded from the McIntosh Rosebowl, with Uncle Bobs reinstated in their place.
“The result of the match will be awarded as a walkover 2-0 win, and Elgin Caledonian fined £30 for their rule breaches.
“The player has also been suspended from FNWFA competitions for the rest of this season and for the 2015 season also, and reported to the Moray Welfare League.”
As a result Uncle Bobs will now play Carisbrooke in the quarter finals of the competition next month.