Ban and fine for players
News Archive > Sport > Ban and fine for players
ST AUSTELL duo Lee Whetter and Ben Douglas look set to be hit with a 140-day suspension and a £100 fine after their involvement in the melee which followed the ill-fated St Austell v Newquay clash last month.
Whetter and Douglas who were both involved in the melee which followed the game could be stung with a suspension which will see them back before the end of the season.
Whetter said: “I’ve got to be happy with that, it could have been a lot worse for myself, they could have made a real example out of me.
“I’ve got to help build a stand at Charlestown’s pitch but I am happy to do that anyway, I can’t train until my ban is up but hopefully I will be back before the end of the season.”
It is believed that Douglas has been handed the same punishment as Whetter.
However, it is still uncertain what if any punishment will be handed to St Austell after the Cornwall FA’s disciplinary commission held their meeting on Monday night and after deciding what punishments both the clubs and the two players in question have been handed and they will be informed today.
It is believed that the club have been handed a larger fine than the £200 suspended fine which has been handed to Newquay.
St Austell president Trevor Trenouth told the Voice: “The feeling amongst the ones that attended the meeting was that it went well, we had a fair hearing and we were allowed to put all of our points across.
“We went in first and then were followed by Newquay and now we just have to await the outcome, but on the whole we feel that it went alright.”
There were just minutes remaining when the two sides clashed last month and with Newquay leading 4-3 the game spiraled into ugly scenes after Whetter had left the field of play to confront Newquay supporter Mark ‘The Judge’ Charles.
This led to players, supporters and officials of both club all piling into the top corner of the Poltair Park stand to try and dissolve the situation.
With the game drawing to a conclusion Douglas had been sent for a reckless tackle from behind, while Whetter was shown his second yellow card for contesting things and clashing with Newquay skipper Sean Middleton, before leaving the field to confront Charles.
Newquay chairman Graham Drew revealed to the Voice that the Peppermints have been warned about their future conduct and have been handed a £200 fine, £100 of which is to be paid now and £100 of which is suspended for 12 months, “I am bitterly disappointed and angry about this,” said Drew.
“The case against St Austell and their players had already been heard before we got there and I have no idea what the result of that was.”
It remains to seen whether the league has become involved in the matter.
