Fort William Issue Statement Following Abandoned Match | |
28 September 2014 Fort William Shinty Club have issued a statement following their abandoned Marine Harvest National Division match with Oban Camanachd at Mossfield on Saturday 27 September 2014. The outcome of the match would determine who gained promotion to the Orion Group Premiership. The game’s flashpoint came early in the second half when, with Oban Camanachd leading 1-0, referee Robert Baxter was struck by a fast-moving ball and was unable to continue. There were several Camanachd Association referees in attendance but there was confusion over how the rules should be applied in such circumstances the match was eventually abandoned.
The official statement from the Fort William Shinty Club Chairman reads: We understand that no Fourth Official / Reserve Referee had been appointed. Also, to compound it, we understand neither Goal Judge, both of whom were suitably qualified referees, were able to do it for different but valid reasons. Two Camanachd Association Directors present made every effort to take guidance and ultimately we were advised that Bye Law 3.3 indicated that the game should be abandoned. We are grateful to both Directors - Mr Young and Mr Gall – for their efforts to find an answer. In a last ditch attempt to avoid abandoning the match, a referee was found among the spectators who would have officiated. We are grateful to him, Billy Wotherspoon, for offering, despite his own misgivings .He would have had to go home to get his kit. As a Club we felt it was urgent that a decision was taken. By then there had been a full half hour stoppage and the debate as to what should happen was on-going. We discussed it and as a Club decided, very reluctantly, that the only sensible course at that point was to abandon. We have been informed that the likely date for the game to take place is 1 November 2014. Fort William are at a disadvantage that day as some of our players are due to be in Prague, attending the Stag Do of our player, and former International, Niall MacPhee. Ends statement |