Grand jury orders replay

October 5 2007

Shepparton News

An intense tribunal has ordered Shepparton and Yoogali to play their North Eastern Soccer League Grand Final again after a marathon hearing last night.

The three-man independent tribunal of John Karounos, Bruce Little and chairman Gordon Porter ruled that the only sporting outcome of the original grand final between the clubs was to replay the game.

The rematch will be played on Sunday, October 14 with the venue to be decided by the league.

Adrian Ingham, the player at the centre of the controversy will front a tribunal on Thursday charged with misconduct for taking a penalty during the shoot-out which decided the initial game.

Ingham was substituted from the field during extra-time of the 1-1 draw, but he and fellow substitute Connor Campbell returned to the playing field to stand with Shepparton's players during the shoot-out won 7-6 by the Reds.

When no player stepped forward to take the Reds' eighth kick of the shoot-out, the ineligible Ingham walked to the penalty spot and converted his kick.

The tribunal deemed the first grand final was a draw and the game unable to be completed because of Ingham's illegal penalty.

Cards accumulated in the first grand final will count towards the replay, meaning Shepparton's league-leading goal-scorer Stuart Vance will be suspended.

Shepparton was not represented at the tribunal hearing, while Yoogali sent president Paul Fisher, secretary Adrian Fanani and Sante Donadel to present evidence on its behalf.

"Shepparton played a non-playing player in the shoot-out, therefore his penalty goal cannot stand," Porter said.

"It is not in the spirit of the game that he be allowed to take his kick, it is a breach of both the rules and players' code of conduct.

"We require the league to have Adrian Ingham charged with misconduct and that the game be replayed."

The tribunal said its ruling was as a "point in the sand", and was unsympathetic to Yoogali's protests that some of their players would be on representative duty in NSW football tournaments.

Shepparton coach Andy Ingham last night said he was glad the initial tribunal stage was over, but admitted the club needed time to consider the ruling.