An Appeals Panel of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) has met to consider the charges against Llay Miners Welfare FC for the Disciplinary Offences for a breach of FAW Rule 84, Cymru North Rule 14.1 and Nathaniel MG Cup Rule 23c.
FAW Rule 84 states that: ‘Any Player participating in an Official Match in a Professional Competition must have the right to work unrestricted in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable law and applicable Regulations (including the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) Criteria Regulations.’
Cymru North Rule 14.1 states: ‘No Club may play an ineligible Player in any Match. Any Club which plays an ineligible player in a Match, or Matches, will have three (3) points deducted from its League record for that Playing Season up to a maximum of 18 points and will also be liable to a fine. If the Player is a nominated but unused substitute for a Match, he shall be deemed as not having played for the Club in that Match.’
Nathaniel MG Cup Rule 23c states: ‘The players shall also be duly qualified according to the Rules of the Association.’
It was alleged that the Club fielded an ineligible player, who did not have the right to work unrestricted in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable law and applicable Regulations, in the following matches:
- Gresford Athletic FC v Llay Welfare FC (2024/25 JD Cymru North) – 26 July 2024
- Holywell Town FC v Llay Welfare FC (2024/25 Nathaniel MG Cup) – 3 August 2024.
All charges were found proven. In line with Cymru North Rule 14.1, the Club has received a deduction of three (3) points, effective immediately in the JD Cymru North 2024/25 season.
The Club has also received two monetary fines. The first fine is suspended for the duration for the 2024/25 season that the Club shall not be required to pay unless any further breach of the FAW Rules concerning player eligibility is proved against, or admitted by the Club, before the end of the season. The second fine is suspended for a period of 12 calendar months (up to and including 15 October 2025) that the Club shall not be required to pay unless any further breach of the Nathaniel MG Cup Rules concerning player eligibility is proved against, or admitted by the Club, in that period.
Llay Miners Welfare FC has the right to appeal the matter to Independent Arbitration.