FC Tripimeni

The FA have announced that FC Tripimeni were guilty of three separate and deliberate breaches of the rules regarding fielding ineligible players in their game against Oyster Martyrs and consequently, they have been removed from the competition and Oyster have been reinstated.

The FA have also confirmed that Tripimeni were guilty of deliberately breaching the same rule in previous rounds and have been fined £750 and banned from entering the Sunday Cup for 5 years!

This is the first time that I am aware of a side being banned for 5 years due to fielding ineligible players. This punishment is normally reserved for sides whose matches were abandoned due to crowd trouble, such as Buttershaw Whitestar v Coppelhouse in 2007 and Halton Moor v Flathouse in 2009.

Clearly, the FA were fully satisfied that Tripimeni had knowlingly committed numerous offences of playing ineligible players and in my opinion, their removal from the competition, their fine and ban are entirely justified.

So, Oyster Martyrs have another chance to reach their third final in four seasons, although a trip to Billingham Synthonia to meet Hetton Lyons is a daunting prospect for a full strenght Oyster side, let alone one that could be missing three key players, following their indisciplined defeat to Tripimeni.

The two sides have met before. Hetton Lyons beat Oyster 3-1 in a 3rd round tie in 2007/08, which was Oyster's debut in the competition.