Reds take one final shot

October 10 2007

Shepparton News

Shepparton will appeal the North Eastern Soccer League tribunal's ruling that the grand final must be played again.

The Reds will lodge papers with the league in the coming days as it attempts to prevent playing in Sunday's rematch.

The league announced on Monday the match between Shepparton and Yoogali will kick-off at 2 pm on Sunday at Cobram's Apex Reserve.

Whether or not the game goes ahead hinges on Shepparton's appeal, with Football Federation Victoria called in to ensure the process does no further damage to the image of the game.

At this stage the regular appeals process run by the league will take place, despite the attention from the state federation.

Exactly what Shepparton will present to the appeals board to attempt to overrule the tribunal decision is unknown.

In the original grand final the substituted Adrian Ingham took a penalty kick for Shepparton in the shoot-out won by the Reds after the scores were locked 1-1 after time.

Thursday's independent tribunal of John Karounos, Bruce Little and Gordon Porter were emphatic in stating a replay was the only "sporting" outcome of the game.

They also said that under FIFA rules the only option it had was to order the game be played again.

Shepparton spokesperson Chris Davkovski said yesterday the club was about to file an official protest with the league.

"We will appeal," Davkovski said.

"I'm not prepared to comment on anything other than that."

Davkovski refused to comment on what Shepparton will present to the appeals board as it attempts to overturn the tribunal's decision.

Yoogali representatives told The News last week that its players were training "unenthusiastically" in preparation for the rematch, while Shepparton has not definitively committed to playing the game.

The Reds will be without the suspended Stuart Vance, Johnny Davkovski and David Davkovski, while Ingham must face a misconduct charge tomorrow.

Yoogali has no suspended players.