Southern League club deducted points – leading to big change in relegation battle

Southern League Division One Central club FC Romania have been deducted three points – leading to big change in their relegation battle.

They fielded goalkeeper Matt Boylan in a game against Hadley on 5th November without his registration application having been fully approved.

This punishment means that FC Romania slip to the bottom of the table, a relegation place, with Barton Rovers climbing a spot to replace them.

LEAGUE STATEMENT

Following the conclusion of FA investigations, the Pitching In Southern League concluded its own investigations in respect to a reported playing of an ineligible player.

In the Division One Central match, FC Romania versus Hadley FC, on Saturday 5th November 2022, FC Romania fielded goalkeeper Matt Boylan from the start of the match when his registration application had not been fully approved.

The League’s Board considered the matter at its February Board Meeting and following the charge for a breach of rule for fielding an ineligible player, the charge was proven.

As a result the Club was fined and is being deducted the three points that it gained from the match in its 4-1 win.

The three points will be deducted from its total today, which will be reflected in the division table on our website.

FC Romania now sit 19th, played 29, won 4, drew 4, lost 21, scored 25, conceded 82, have a -57 goal difference, 3 points deducted, leaving them with 13 points.

FC ROMANIA’S 22/23 RESULTS:

Sun 7 Aug – H – London Lions – FA Cup EP 2 – 0
Sat 13 Aug – A – Kidlington – Southern Central – 0 – 3
Wed 17 Aug – H – Barton Rovers – Southern Central – 1 – 1
Sun 21 Aug – H – Heybridge Swifts – FA Cup P – (0) 0 – 2 (1)
Sat 27 Aug – H – Berkhamsted – Southern Central – 2 – 1
Mon 29 Aug – A – Waltham Abbey – Southern Central – 2 – 2
Tue 13 Sep – H – Westfield – FA Trophy 1Q – (0) 1 – 1 (1) – FC Romania win 4-2 on penalties
Sat 17 Sep – A – Ware – Southern Central – 0 – 3
Sun 25 Sep – H – Faversham Town-  FA Trophy 2Q – (1) 2 – 3 (2)
Tue 4 Oct – H – Aylesbury United-  Southern Central – 4 – 1
Sat 8 Oct – A – Kempston Rovers-  Southern Central – (0) 1 – 2 (0)
Wed 12 Oct – H – Biggleswade – Southern Central – 0 – 1
Sat 15 Oct – A – Cirencester Town – Southern Central – 0 – 3
Sat 22 Oct – H – AFC Dunstable – Southern Central – (0) 0 – 1 (0)
Tue 25 Oct – A – Hertford Town – Southern Central – 0 – 5
Sat 29 Oct – A – Didcot Town – Southern Central – 1 – 4
Sat 5 Nov – H – Hadley – Southern Central – 4 – 1
Sat 12 Nov – H – Walthamstow – Southern Central – 0 – 0
Sat 19 Nov – A – Biggleswade Town – Southern Central – 3 – 5
Tue 22 Nov – A – Barton Rovers – Southern Central – 2 – 1
Sat 26 Nov – A – Welwyn Garden City – Southern Central – 0 – 3
Sat 3 Dec – H – Kidlington – Southern Central – 0 – 1
Mon 2 Jan – H – Waltham Abbey – Southern Central – 0 – 1
Sat 7 Jan – A – Berkhamsted – Southern Central – (1) 1 – 6 (3)
Tue 10 Jan – A – Thame United – Southern Central – 2 – 7
Sat 28 Jan – A – Walthamstow – Southern Central – 0 – 6
Wed 1 Feb – H – Welwyn Garden City – Southern Central – 0 – 4
Sun 5 Feb – H – Kempston Rovers – Southern Central – (0) 0 – 2 (0)
Sat 11 Feb – A – Aylesbury United – Southern Central – 1 – 2
Sat 18 Feb – H – Thame United – Southern Central – 0 – 0
Wed 22 Feb – H – Ware – Southern Central – 1 – 3
Sat 25 Feb – A – Highworth Town – Southern Central – 0 – 5
Sat 4 Mar – A – Biggleswade – Southern Central – 0 – 8
Wed 8 Mar – H – Highworth Town – Southern Central – 7.45pm
Sat 18 Mar – H – Cirencester Town – Southern Central – 3pm
Sat 25 Mar – A – AFC Dunstable – Southern Central – 3pm
Sun 2 Apr – H – Hertford Town – Southern Central – 3pm
Sat 8 Apr – H – Biggleswade Town – Southern Central – 3pm
Sat 15 Apr – H – Didcot Town – Southern Central – 3pm
Sat 22 Apr – A – Hadley – Southern Central – 3pm

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Fans reacted to the Southern League club being deducted points – leading to big change in relegation battle…

@theboygibbo: Sad to see what’s happened to FC Romania – enjoyed my time there with @MichaelWalther5 back in 18/19.

@ThatHadleyChick: Finally after 4 months 🙌 Makes no difference to us as we don’t gain from @FCRomania fielding an ineligible player – shit rule 👎 But at least it will shut up all the twitter twats 👍

@marowe1988: Bet barton rovers are buzzing.

@ThatHadleyChick: With a game in hand on them too, what a result for them

@TerryPaul245867: Matt Boylan is actually the Barton Rovers now

@ThatHadleyChick: It makes no difference to him and tbf isn’t his fault. It’s down to the club to ensure all players are correctly signed and they didn’t 🤷‍♀️ at least its been proven now

Michael Chalkley: That will hurt them

@mrsnodes: Good news for @bartonroversfc

Context https://t.co/oDqm2pu0Hf

— Harwich and Parkeston FC History (@HPFChistory) March 7, 2023