The Appeal and Disciplinary Committee (ADC) of the West Coast Region Zonal Championship has overturned key decisions made by the Organising Committee (OC) following a protest filed over the abandoned match between Gunjur and Sanyang.

After reviewing the competition rules, match reports and the Laws of the Game, the ADC ruled that Gunjur players Dawda Sowe and Sheikh Omar Njie committed no offence that warranted suspension.

The Committee stated that, according to the referee’s report, “none of the Gunjur Zone players were outside the field of play at the start of the match.”

As a result, it rescinded their two-match bans.

The ADC also annulled the D5,000 fine on Gunjur, citing that the official reports “did not implicate Gunjur Zone into actions that resulted disrepute or abandonment of the match.”

However, the Committee upheld the D5,000 fine on Sanyang after confirming that its supporters sparked the disruption.

According to the ADC, the reports established that “the fans of Sanyang Zone decided to invade the field of play in protest of the decision of the referee not to allow the 11th player in the field of play.”

In line with Article 11.12 of the competition rules, the ADC maintained the decision for the match to be replayed at a neutral ground.

The ADC criticised the referee’s indecision and the match commissioner’s interference, stating that both contributed significantly to the disruption.

The Committee further warned the Organising Committee against creating rules that conflict with the official Laws of the Game, citing the OC’s attempt to address delays in players entering the pitch as one factor that escalated the situation.

The ADC further rejected the request for access to the referee’s and match commissioner’s reports, stressing that the documents “are confidential… and should not be in public domain.”

The Committee concluded by reminding all parties that its decision is final and urged full cooperation moving forward.

By Ebrima KB Sonko