Adam bomb explodes with protest

 

July 3 2010

Shepparton News

The man at the centre of the Goulburn North East Football Association ineligible player debacle could have never imagined the controversy he was about to spark when he boarded a plane to Australia two months ago.

Adam Gatcum, 20, came to Cobram Victory chasing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel and play the game he loved Down Under, like many young Englishmen before him.

But unlike his peers, Gatcum is now embroiled in a GNEFA crisis that is creating divisions throughout the league and threatening to topple its administration.

Gatcum came to Victory with a four-match suspension hanging over his head received playing for semi-professional club Andover FC in the south of England _ a suspension neither he nor Victory kept secret.

The English Football Association told Gatcum it was up to the Australian league for which he wished to play to decide on his eligibility.

``We got in touch with all the bodies over here _ the FFV and the GNEFA _ and they said it was okay to play,'' Gatcum said.

``Once the confirmation came through (from GNEFA president Frank Trimboli) I was just excited to play. I hadn't been in the country long and I just wanted get out on the pitch and show people what I could do.''

However, it wasn't long until the beginnings of the fiasco _ which is still far from resolved _ started to emerge.

Gatcum helped Victory to a 4-2 win over cross-town rival Cobram in his first game for the club, but the Tigers immediately protested the result on the grounds Gatcum was ineligible.

Shepparton South followed suit a week later when it too was defeated by Victory with Gatcum on the park.

``When I first saw it (the initial protest) I kind of laughed to be honest . . . I wasn't angry or disappointed. I was quite confused about why they were protesting it. Obviously I had been cleared,'' Gatcum said.

``It was kind of comical really; I had been cleared by all the relevant parties, so there seemed to be no need for a protest against it. I'm sure there wouldn't have been a protest if the result had been different, but that's just the way it goes.''

The heat then fell on the administration, which, sensing the possible ramifications of a successful protest, was determined to stop the matter being heard.

After two cancelled hearings it admitted it was wrong to stifle the matter and allowed a tribunal to sit on Monday night.

The panel determined the league had made a mistake and that Victory was to be stripped of both the wins.

The decision has hurt the club, but Gatcum said team spirit had never been stronger.

``It's probably made us tighter. It's made everyone want to prove what a good side we can be . . . the team spirit at the club has just been brilliant,'' he said.

``Everyone has been really supportive of me and the whole situation because people realise it's not us that have made a mistake. We haven't tried to hide anything.

``If the league doesn't know the rules then who can you ask? We've asked the highest person that we can in the league. We've been completely honest in everything and we're now paying for someone else's mistake.''

Victory intends to appeal the tribunal's decision and even take legal action against the league.

But the league can't be stripped of points, unlike the clubs, which leaves the question of who should pay, and how, open for more debate.

Gatcum was informed yesterday by the league that he would be required to sit-out the next two matches. In the meantime he will continue to help coach the juniors, work in president Tony Startari's restaurant and support his club.

He said the issue hadn't dampened his enthusiasm for the club or the country.

``I wanted to play soccer in a different country, but it was more of a lifetime opportunity rather than just a soccer thing. The sport was a just a means to come over really,'' he said.

``And I absolutely love it here. The club itself has been brilliant . . . I've certainly got no regrets about coming over, but it's just very frustrating that it's come to this.''