Hugh James overturns relegation
Hugh James overturns decision to relegate
Risca United and Pontyclun Football
Club
12 I 08 I 10
The Hugh James commercial
litigation team, led by senior partner and sports law specialist
Gareth Williams, were successful in their appeal against a
decision by the Welsh Football League to relegate the two football
clubs from Division 3 of the Welsh Leagues.The case was heard by a
disciplinary panel at the Football Association of Wales.
In 2009 new rules were introduced
by the Welsh Football League to reduce the number of teams in all
three division to 16. In order to remain in the league all clubs
had to meet a set of grounds criteria and, in the event that more
than 16 clubs remained eligible, survival would be decided on
league position.
Our clients had
met the grounds standard criteria but had been relegated on
the basis of their low league position. It was successfully argued
at the panel hearing that the policy for relegation had not been
complied with. We argued
that certain clubs had remained in Division 3 despite
their grounds not meeting the essential criteria. The appeal was
upheld and the decision to relegate the two clubs was
overturned.
Speaking about the case Gareth Williams
said:
"We are delighted to have
assisted Risca and Pontyclun football clubs in their appeal
against the decision of the
league to relegate them. It is vital that rules and
regulations affecting a club's league status are applied properly
where so much is at stake both on and off the field, and
we are pleased that arguments we advanced before the Football
Association of Wales disciplinary committee were
accepted."