Heidelberg United will begin the 2016 NPL Victoria season with a three-point league deficit, after the FFV’s tribunal board hearing found the club guilty for its conduct in the aftermath of their Finals loss to Pascoe Vale.
The club pleaded guilty to two charges, fined $1000 for a misconduct charge due to a “failure to control its club associate(s)” in the Elimination Finals defeat.
They were also charged with a serious misconduct offence for their post-game actions directed to official Shaun Evans in that fixture:
Heidelberg United SC is charged with Misconduct / MP6 B (First ‘Serious’ Offence) as a result of its Club Associate(s) committing offences against Match Official(s) at the above fixture, including but not limited to:
(a) Directing offensive, insulting and/or abusive language, including but not limited to threatening and/or sexist remarks, at or towards the Match Official(s), and/or,
(b) Directing violent, threatening and/or intimidatory behaviour at or towards the Match Official(s)*, and/or,
(c) Throwing a projectile at or towards the Match Official(s) and/or hitting the Match Official(s) with a projectile.*
Section (b) of the above charge was adjourned to a further date, with section (c) withdrawn at the original hearing, tabled by the governing body last Wednesday.
For their actions, Heidelberg were fined $15000, forced to write a letter of apology to the affected party – to be sent to the FFV – and of course the points deduction for the 2016 NPL season.
The charge will come as somewhat of a relief to the Heidelberg camp, with the original penalty of nine competition points reduced to the current total.
Heidelberg have been approached for comment, and are expected to provide a statement in the near future.