Ban has player's name on it

 

June 12 2008

Shepparton News

Reigning North Eastern Soccer League best-and-fairest Carl Fannon will not play in the competition again after facing a Football Federation Victoria tribunal in Melbourne last night.

The Cobram midfielder abandoned the club by choice after pleading guilty to being registered to two clubs at the same time.

Charged with misconduct for knowingly and deliberately registering with two clubs _ Cobram and Melbourne-based club Stonnington City _ Mr Fannon left himself at the mercy of the tribunal with his guilty plea.

But the tribunal found English-born Mr Fannon's actions to be a victimless crime, suspending him for four weeks and annulling his registration to Cobram.

Mr Fannon faced the tribunal after an investigation discovered he was also playing for state league division two south-east club Stonnington City under the name Carl Smith.

Born Carl Smith, Mr Fannon changed his surname upon his mother's remarriage.

Despite Football Federation Australia appearing at the case to state Mr Fannon had never been internationally cleared, Stonnington City was let off with a warning over its charge of failing to obtain a clearance.

The tribunal also dismissed a second charge against Stonnington of knowingly playing Mr Fannon despite him already being registered to Cobram.

Mr Fannon admitted at the hearing he lied to Stonnington City about his actions away from the club.

The question of Mr Fannon's motivation to play for Cobram on Sundays in the North Eastern league, after playing for Stonnington on Saturdays in the metropolitan league, was not raised by the tribunal.

Mr Fannon said in England he was able to play in two different leagues at the same time.

``Fannon was registered in England in a bank league and that's why there was confusion over why he needed an international clearance,'' tribunal member Mark Goldblatt said.

``These are amateur competitions and the player is not playing for money.

``In a sense it's a victimless crime to play in two leagues that don't clash and don't play against each other.''

Victorian tribunal and disciplinary manager Maxwell Gratton said last week no charges were laid against Cobram as it was up to the North Eastern league to investigate its own club.

League president Frank Trimboli said a potential investigation into Cobram's involvement with Mr Fannon would wait until all of the state federation's disciplinary procedures were finished.

Afterwards, Mr Fannon said he would continue to play with Stonnington City upon the end of his suspension and attainment of an international clearance, but his time at Cobram was finished.

Mr Fannon won last year's North Eastern league best-and-fairest with 16 votes, two clear of Cobram Victory player Sam Grasso on 14, with Shepparton South's Serkan Aktas on 13.

However, Mr Fannon was not present at the vote count last September, having already flown back to England.

His prize for winning the best-and-fairest was a $1000 Shepparton Retravision voucher.