Last night Tahmelan Vesa showed what a disgrace to football they are. They had problems getting a team together for the Vitonen fixture against TamU-K, and the way they decided to deal with it is the most dismaying display of disrespect to football that I have ever witnessed first hand.

TahVe knew that if they were not going to start the match, the rules say that they would be disqualified from competition this season, and would have to restart at the bottom of the pyramid next year. Therefore they showed up with seven players, the minimum required in the Laws of the Game to be able to start a match, and literally two seconds after kickoff one of their players fell down faking an injury. The referee assessed the situation, and decided that the match cannot go on with just six TahVe players. Three points to TamU-K, but that did not satisfy the players and supporters that had come out for a football match.

Luckily a member of the competitive committee as well as a member of the disciplinary committee were in attendance. It is clear that these bodies will investigate the incident. The disciplinary regulations state that disciplinary action can be taken for unsportsmanlike behavior in a match, and the possible penalties include a fine, a point deduction, and disqualification from Vitonen this season. Hopefully the

powers that be have the balls to give a penalty that is more than just a slap on the wrist.

Personally I think ending TahVe’s season would be the correct penalty. Otherwise this may become a dangerous precedent that allows teams that have already cleared the relegation zone to forfeit matches without consequences that matter. A big enough point deduction could be enough too, but would not send as clear a message. In my opinion using deceit to work around rules and regulations in an unsportsmanlike manner should result in the same penalty as the rules and regulations would dictate for the infringement being worked around. I’m sure many will agree that what TahVe did last night was much more deplorable than actually forfeiting the match. Deception is much, much worse than just not showing up for a match.

TahVe showed an utter disrespect to the spirit of the rules of the competition, to the competition itself, and indeed to football as a sport. Not to mention the disrespect shown to TamU-K, the players and supporters who were ready for a match. There has to be consequences.