Step 5 club handed a points deduction – how it affects the league table

It has been confirmed this week that Step 5 club Leighton Town, who are in the last 16 of the FA Vase, have been handed a points deduction.

The Spartan League announced that the South Midlands League Premier Division side have had three points taken away from them.

The league have confirmed Leighton Town have been deducted 3 points having played an ineligible player in Premier Division victory over Biggleswade United, which was played on the 7th of December 2019.

The league table will be adjusted accordingly. It sees Leighton fall from 11th place to 12th, and they go from 29 points to a new total of 26 points, as you can see in the photo below…

THE TWITTER REACTION:

Had no idea about any of this until just now. Surely if leighton were deemed to gain and advantage, that puts us at a disadvantage? They cant just get rid of the game. Leighton & biggleswade have seemingly now played a game less?

— Chris Devane (@CDevane89) January 15, 2020

When it happened to us we drew the game and the offending player cleared two shots off the line… So he directly cost us 3 points. Surely something has to change if so many clubs think the rule is not fit for purpose?

— Rich Kelsall (@RichKelsall10) January 16, 2020

The issue with this ruling by the league is that;
If Leighton v Biggleswade was a title decider but Leighton were top. They would know that by playing ‘ringers’ in order to win the game, the punishment is to lose the points gained -therefore still being top and winning the league

— Woking Vets FC (@WokingVetsFC) January 16, 2020

The points are voided but the game still counts against games played and the goal difference still stands.

— New Bradwell St Peter FC (@NewBradwellSPFC) January 16, 2020

Correct! The whole thing just makes no sense whatsoever. Effectively the team on the receiving end gets punished but the offending team doesn’t lose out at all other than not gaining points.

— Rich Kelsall (@RichKelsall10) January 16, 2020

Same happened to broxbourne where London tigers played an ineligible player who had scored in the game to make it a draw, London tigers lost the 1 point but Broxbourne didn’t gain any, the ‘players’ goal was allowed to stand ??‍♀️ rule is a bloody joke!!

— Karen (@KarenChrisFM) January 16, 2020