A POWYS football player has threatened to take the Central Wales Football Association (CWFA) to the High Court after claiming he was denied a fair trial by the disciplinary body.
The row centres on the dismissal of Christopher Davies of the Oak Llanidloes against Angel Welshpool in a Coinspinner Newtown League fixture on Sunday, March 25.
The player was sent off by referee Edward Pryce who, in his report to the CWFA, detailed the dismissal as a red card for “foul and abusive language”.
However Davies maintained the dismissal came about as a result of a second caution for dissent and that he has been unfairly denied the right to appeal by the CWFA.
The row has been further fuelled after the CWFA admitted the referee’s report had been received outside the time limit of three days.
Solicitor, and Chris’ father, Michael Davies said: “The CWFA admitted the report had been received out of time in accordance with their own rules but overlooked this upon the basis of uncertainty of the postal service.
“It transpired the referee was claiming the dismissal was for foul and abusive language, for which there is a right to appeal provided it is lodged within three days.”
Davies’ appeal was submitted on April 4 but was dismissed by the CWFA as “it was out of time”.
A further appeal to the Welsh Football Association (FAW) was held in Llandrindod Wells on June 14, but the complainant was left further aggrieved when he was barred from giving evidence.
“The whole basis of his case was that, given that he did not discover he had been dismissed until April 2 it was wrong of the CWFA to dismiss his appeal as being out of time and that such an application of the rules was a breach of natural justice and also against his right to a fair trial,” added Michael Davies.
“The obvious consequence of these decisions is that referees appear to have carte blanche authority to file erroneous and untruthful reports and against which there can be no right to appeal.
“Mr Davies is now thinking in terms of an application to the High Court for Judicial Review upon the basis that current CWFA rules are unlawful.”
CWFA secretary Dai Alun Jones hit back at such claims and insisted: “This, like all other appeals, has been conducted completely by the book and from the association’s point of view is dead and buried.
“The club was informed in time for the player to lodge an appeal, which was received outside the three day time limit so the matter was closed at this point.”