There seems to be a malaise taking over all sports whereby few playing, coaching or even administering sport read their own rules. Maybe everyone is too busy?
A situation has arisen here in Western Australia during that annual pre season Night Series competition that has many baffled. As usual though clubs are in the main afraid to speak up and ask the relevant questions, even though it would appear that the laws of the game are on their side. Why would they be afraid to speak up, if the law is on their side?
The situation is in relation to the submission of team lists for upcoming games. For the NPL Night Series participating teams we are advised are being requested to submit team lists on Wednesday at 2pm for games being played on Friday night and over the weekend.
Understandably with most teams traditionally training on a Thursday night this is an odd deadline. After all most coaches would want to have their training session, and then announce the squad for the weekend’s match following training. That way anyone that picked up an injury during that training session can be rested. By selecting a team prior to that training session and not being permitted to change it, means a team runs the risk of being a man down if a player picks up and injury. Also if something comes up, such as a work shift that means that they are no longer available.
Quite why the governing body needs the squads so far in advance is baffling, and those who have asked are none the wiser.
To make it even more baffling we have been told that the teams playing in the State League Night Series only have to submit their team lists by Friday at 12pm.
If these were squad lists for the competition that would be a different matter. In fact most well run competitions demand a squad with an agreed number of players be submitted prior to the commencement of the tournament, and subsequent teams can only be selected from that submitted squad.
Football West the company, states in section 1.1 of its constitution in the very first subsection the following:
“The objects for which the Company is established are:
(a) to be the member of FFA in respect of the State and to comply with the constitution and by-laws of FFA;“
Section H goes on to state:
“to co-operate with FFA, other members of FFA and other bodies in the promotion and development of, or otherwise in relation to, Football, the Statutes and Regulations and the Laws of the Game; and”
Remembering that the Football West is a State subsidiary of the Football Federation and its constitution states that it is governed by the constitution and laws of the FFA. If one goes to the constitution of the Football Federation of Australia it should come as no surprise that this states in section 2. “Objects of FFA” under sections C and D the following:
“(c) to be the Australian member of FIFA and comply with the Statutes and Regulations in force from time to time;
(d) to govern Football throughout Australia, respect and prevent any infringement of the Statutes and Regulations; directives and decisions of FIFA, AFC and FFA; principles of fair play, loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship; and the Laws of the Game by its Constituents, and to ensure that these are respected and observed by its Constituents;”
This is all fairly standard governance. In essence all FIFA affiliated countries are governed by the Laws of the Game set down by the World Governing body. As we have seen those that step outside of those rules are usually sanctioned. FIFA, which has had its own governance issues does not take kindly to “rogue” operators.
According to FIFA, the match officials are responsible for handing out team sheets to be completed by each team no less than 75 minutes before kick off. Those team sheets are to be completed and handed to the media no later than 65 minutes prior to kick-off.
For major tournaments such as World Cup Tournaments, the regulations state “Each team is responsible for arriving at the stadium at the latest 90 minutes before the kick-off of the respective match and for providing the completed start list to the FIFA General Coordinator upon such arrival.”
Having visited the Football West website and clicked on the NPL WA tab, which re-directs you to a seperate NPL website you click on “Competitions” and then “Competition Rules” you will find that most of the rules and regulations refer to 2019. Reading the Night Series Rules for 2019 there is no mention of the early deadline, so clearly this has been introduced this year. It would therefore appear that it has been introduced by someone who does not understand how a club functions, and is also unaware of the FIFA regulations.
If FIFA states that teams must be submitted no later than 65 minutes before kick off, and Football in Australia is operating under the rules and regulations stipulated by FIFA, why would any team submit a team list outside of those deadlines?
Thanks Pedro. I agree 100%.
However if the players wish to be paid and then ensure that they receive there full agreed amount over a season, some have to act more professionally in terms of their commitment. No holidays mid season, and show that they are dedicated to the club for that season by their commitment. Maybe a Players Union could set up an expected code of conduct and make players aware of their obligations?
You are right , clubs are afraid to speak up, FW prove time and again that they don’t know their own rules and people in the offices come up with new rules just to justify their position in the organisation, it’s a total mess but who is to blame . In Australia , in any bussines people sign contracts , most of the times without reading the small print , that’s why i believe if we want to improve our sport we should start with the main contenders , the players . I believe that we should have a Players Union in WA so players can be made aware of their rights and to have a legal body that can stand up to FW and to the clubs that do not do their best to protect the players . It would be a start !