An Ayrshire youth football team are being forced to replay a Scottish Cup tie they thought they had won “through no fault of their own”.
Last month, Kilwinning Rangers Madrid 2010s defeated Stirling Albion Junior Academy Red 2010s 6-5 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
However, an appeal from reigning Scottish champions Stirling Albion – heard 18 days after the match and just two days before the Buffs were due to face Currie Star in the quarter-finals – was upheld as the referee had made a “mistake”.
Buffs coach Gary McDonald said they had been “punished when we haven’t made a mistake” and the club have now launched a crowdfunder to cover the costs of the replayed tie which will be in Stirling rather than at home like the original tie.
Rolling substitutions are permitted by the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) at under 15s and a player substituted off with seven minutes to play later took and scored one of the buffs penalties.
A similar situation had occurred in a previous round when the Buffs faced Musselburgh Windsor in the fourth round – on both occasions they asked the match referee if “anyone from the match squad” could take a penalty and the referee allowed it.
An SYFA panel adjudged that to be a “mistake” following the appeal from Stirling Albion.
The Buffs were also disappointed that Stirling Albion were allowed to appeal in the first place as the SYFA Disciplinary Procedures stipulate that “appeals which relate to any matter affecting the result of a cup tie or which would interrupt playing of a competition shall not be entertained”.
They also highlighted IFAB – the body which governs the laws of the game – Law 3.2 which states “The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and result of the match, are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.”
Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Gary said: “We asked the referee if anyone in the match squad could take a penalty and he said yes.
“I didn’t think the appeal would go anywhere. We had the same situation with the same player in round four against Musselburgh Windsor so its the second time its happened.
“We sent a huge email with evidence but they didn’t even discuss it. It was completely dismissed.”
Feeling the injustice, the community have rallied round the Buffs and raised £1,955 – smashing the target – to cover the cost of transport to Stirling for the match tomorrow, Saturday, February 15.
Gary thanked the community for the “huge support we have had”.
The Buffs gofundme page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/kilwinning-rangers-2010-scottish-cup
The Scottish Youth Football Association were contacted for comment.
Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter