Championship Coventry City Receive Suspended Points Deduction [Gazette]

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member

Points deduction suspended until 18 months time?​

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Middlesbrough's promotion rivals Coventry City hit with suspended points deduction​

Coventry City were sanctioned by the EFL after needing to postpone three home matches earlier in the season

Craig Johns
13:05, 22 DEC 2022

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Middlesbrough's promotion rivals Coventry City have been hit with a five-point deduction by the EFL, which is suspended until the end of next season, after admitting breaking regulations relating to pitch maintenance earlier this season.

Coventry City were forced to postpone three league home games at the start of the campaign against Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town because the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena was not deemed to be in a playable condition after it was used in the summer for Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s games.

The stadium was at the time owned by Rugby Union club Wasps and the Sky Blues leased the ground to play its home games there, only returning to the ground in 2021 after two seasons playing at Birmingham City's St Andrew's. Despite not owning the ground, the football club are liable, under EFL regulations, to 'ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to maintain its pitch in good order'.

As such, Coventry City have accepted they breached the regulations at the start of the season and have accepted the suspended points deduction as well as paying for the cost of the EFL investigation into the matter and compensating the three clubs whose games were postponed.

The deducted points punishment will be suspended until the end of next season, with the published ruling stating: "The suspended points deduction shall be applied immediately upon any charge being proven, or admitted, relating to any further missed fixture of the Club in the 2022/2023 season and/or 2023/2024 season."

The pitch had recovered enough by the time Middlesbrough visited on October 1 in a 1-0 defeat for Boro that proved to be Chris Wilder's final game in charge. Highlighting the issues the Sky Blues were having, the game was Coventry's first Saturday 3pm kick-off of the season on home turf.

Since that game both sides, who made up the Championship's bottom four at the time, have climbed up the league table. Good form under Michael Carrick sees Boro sitting 14th now and just four points off the top six. They dropped one place in the table on Wednesday evening on account of Coventry's 1-0 win over West Brom which moved them above Boro and up to 8th in the table, three points better off than Boro with a game in hand still to play too.

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Boro's promotion rivals Coventry hit with suspended points deduction

Coventry City were sanctioned by the EFL after needing to postpone three home matches earlier in the season
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I think it is fair it is suspended - it was clearly the fault of the ground owners, Wasps and massively impacted on Coventry City more than any visiting clubs.
 
fmttmadmin said:
I think it is fair it is suspended - it was clearly the fault of the ground owners, Wasps and massively impacted on Coventry City more than any visiting clubs.
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I understand the issue rested with WASPs, but why suspend the points deduction for another 18 months?
A club has a duty to play its ficxtures. Coventry were aware of the situation with the pitches before the Commonwealth Games. They had time to arrange matches at another venue [temporarily] until the pitches were restored to the required standard. It doesnt sit right.
 
r00fie1 said:

Points deduction suspended until 18 months time?​

​

[Picture Edited]

Middlesbrough's promotion rivals Coventry City hit with suspended points deduction​

Coventry City were sanctioned by the EFL after needing to postpone three home matches earlier in the season

Craig Johns
13:05, 22 DEC 2022

View attachment 49708

Middlesbrough's promotion rivals Coventry City have been hit with a five-point deduction by the EFL, which is suspended until the end of next season, after admitting breaking regulations relating to pitch maintenance earlier this season.

Coventry City were forced to postpone three league home games at the start of the campaign against Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town because the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena was not deemed to be in a playable condition after it was used in the summer for Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s games.

The stadium was at the time owned by Rugby Union club Wasps and the Sky Blues leased the ground to play its home games there, only returning to the ground in 2021 after two seasons playing at Birmingham City's St Andrew's. Despite not owning the ground, the football club are liable, under EFL regulations, to 'ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to maintain its pitch in good order'.

As such, Coventry City have accepted they breached the regulations at the start of the season and have accepted the suspended points deduction as well as paying for the cost of the EFL investigation into the matter and compensating the three clubs whose games were postponed.

The deducted points punishment will be suspended until the end of next season, with the published ruling stating: "The suspended points deduction shall be applied immediately upon any charge being proven, or admitted, relating to any further missed fixture of the Club in the 2022/2023 season and/or 2023/2024 season."

The pitch had recovered enough by the time Middlesbrough visited on October 1 in a 1-0 defeat for Boro that proved to be Chris Wilder's final game in charge. Highlighting the issues the Sky Blues were having, the game was Coventry's first Saturday 3pm kick-off of the season on home turf.

Since that game both sides, who made up the Championship's bottom four at the time, have climbed up the league table. Good form under Michael Carrick sees Boro sitting 14th now and just four points off the top six. They dropped one place in the table on Wednesday evening on account of Coventry's 1-0 win over West Brom which moved them above Boro and up to 8th in the table, three points better off than Boro with a game in hand still to play too.

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Boro's promotion rivals Coventry hit with suspended points deduction

Coventry City were sanctioned by the EFL after needing to postpone three home matches earlier in the season
www.gazettelive.co.uk www.gazettelive.co.uk
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I don't think you've grasped what a suspended penalty is
 
suspended penalty means it only happens if you breach the conditions of it, so if they cancel games again due to the pitch being horrendous they will be docked the points. If they meet their obligations nothing will happen and in 18 months the threat of docked points is gone.

would of thought plenty of people from Middlesbrough would be aware what a suspended sentence was lol
 
Honey_Glazed_Sausages said:
I don't think you've grasped what a suspended penalty is
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Thats my question and implied suggestion - it should be of now, not 18 months time. [ie. not suspended]
I dont think youve grasped the meaning of my comment - hence the "?" [Thats a question mark by the way]
Must be a little more literal and explanatory in the future.(y)
 
muniz said:
suspended penalty means it only happens if you breach the conditions of it, so if they cancel games again due to the pitch being horrendous they will be docked the points. If they meet their obligations nothing will happen and in 18 months the threat of docked points is gone.

would of thought plenty of people from Middlesbrough would be aware what a suspended sentence was lol
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They`ve already broke the rules by not meeting their obligation to fulfill their fixtures. Coventry City were well aware in advance that Rugby 7s were being played at the Stadium during the Commonwealth Games. There was nothing stopping Coventry from arranging to play fixtures [temporarily] at St Andrews, until the pitch was restored to the standards demanded by the EFL. The "suspended points deduction" amounts to nothing.
 
Not bothered by it being suspended.

They were given assurances that weren't followed by the council and Wasps, and they've gained nothing but increased hardship from the postponements.

If they'd cheated or had a huge injury crisis at the time which made it suspicious, I'd be more concerned, but it's fine.
 
TeaCider said:
Not bothered by it being suspended.

They were given assurances that weren't followed by the council and Wasps, and they've gained nothing but increased hardship from the postponements.

If they'd cheated or had a huge injury crisis at the time which made it suspicious, I'd be more concerned, but it's fine.
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Agree, they haven't gained advantage through it, and the players, manager and fans would be the ones to suffer from events they've neither gained from or had control of
 
r00fie1 said:
Thats my question and implied suggestion - it should be of now, not 18 months time. [ie. not suspended]
I dont think youve grasped the meaning of my comment - hence the "?" [Thats a question mark by the way]
Must be a little more literal and explanatory in the future.(y)
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You still haven't grasped it :ROFLMAO: It doesn't mean they'll get a deduction in 18 months. It's like a suspended prison sentence. If you reoffend within that time period then it will be actioned
 
Honey_Glazed_Sausages said:
You still haven't grasped it :ROFLMAO: It doesn't mean they'll get a deduction in 18 months. It's like a suspended prison sentence. If you reoffend within that time period then it will be actioned
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Perhaps I ought to elaborate for your benefit:
The issue of the damage caused by the Rugby 7`s during the Commonwealth Games is highly unlikely to arise again. Therefore, any threat against the club for it happening again is almost non-existent. They wont get the points deduction. Its a procedural slap on the wrist. I hope you are able to understand?

Thank you for your comments. I`l give them the time and consideration they deserve. (y)
 
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