posted May 15, 2008

I wonder what would happen if it was Widnes who won and fielded the ineligible player. Hull would definitely waltz back into the cup.

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posted May 15, 2008

"It is, however, clear that playing an ineligible player is a serious breach of the operational rules and the board has referred the matter to the RFL compliance manager to deal with under the misconduct rules.
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But not serious enough to disqualify them?

Hypocrites.

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posted May 15, 2008

The amazing, gutless RFL. They make rules but don't but into place any penalties for breaking them. That way they the big clubs can do what they want. Widnes kept out 2 players for that game against Hull because they were not eligible to play. Widnes need compensation for this mess, Hull should give all gate receipts from the matches to Widnes.

Heads should roll both at the RFL and Hull FC.

Sort this out before Rugby League becomes a laughing stock.

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posted May 15, 2008

Another fine mess you gotten me out of James Love Kate

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posted May 15, 2008

Typical RFL, what a joke they make of themselves? Each season they change the rules & then break them the minute some kind of issue may cause work & upeveil. This lays down another marker for clubs to break rules if & when they want. If that had been Widnes they would have been out of the competition, banned for another year & fined. Well done & congratulations to the RFL for making the game we all love look really professional yet again?!?!

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posted May 15, 2008

Not sure but I think theres a job advertised on Therfl.co.uk website to do the job that should have being done here!
Hull knew the rules I can assure you off that!
And it looks like they have got away with it.
Any Fine should be a lot £50k-60k and should be split between Widnes and rochdale

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posted May 15, 2008

If this had been an Amateur team in one of the early rounds then the outcome would have been expulsion or if it was a league game loss of points. Ask the secretary of Bradford Dudley Hill. The lost out on promotion on points difference after loosing two points due to being found guilty of exactly the same offence.

Shame on the RFL for discriminating against teams they see as of lesser importance. How does this match the expectations they lay down in the "Respect" camaign?

Once again our great sport will be ridiculed by our peers!

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posted May 15, 2008

The RFL proves that it can match Hull's management for incompetence! What a display of weakness.

If they are to salvage anything from this mess, the RFL must not only be seen to punish Hull properly, they should compensate Widnes and Rochdale too. How about them sharing whatever prize money Hull earn in the competition as a start?

In a way I hope Hull win the Cup now, so as to maximise the embarrassment for all concerned. Shoddy and amateurish.

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posted May 15, 2008

Slightly different scenario this - but Brighouse Rangers earlier this season fielded an ineligible player and they were expelled from their league altogether. If it wasn't a big name SL team, they'd be out on their ear.

I can't believe the RFL are now talking about writing a punishment into the rules for anytime this happens again! Why wasn't this already done? Shambolic at the RFL - someone should be brought to account for this.

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posted May 16, 2008

As Hull fan, I'm glad that we haven't been thrown out of the cup, but...

...if the rules say the penalty for fielding and ineligible player is expulsion from the competition then FC should have been expelled.

If the rules don't give an explicit penalty, then we have the minefield of subjectivity, self-interest and pragmatism that is oxygen to messageboards the world over.

As I see it, ineligible players fall into two categories:
1. Those that have previously played for another club in a cup competition
2. Those who haven't played for another club, but were not registered at all or incorrectly.

In the Hull case, Thackray falls into the second group, which is the less serious of the two. However, the penalties for such a breach should be clear and applicable to whichever team breaks them (irrespective of their place in the structure of the game).

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