One charge for two names

June 5 2008

Shepparton News

Charges against Cobram's North Eastern Soccer League best and fairest winner Carl Fannon have been finalised by Football Federation Victoria after its investigation into his registration last month.

But Cobram Soccer Club will not be charged as a party in Fannon's hearing after the state federation deemed the North Eastern league club outside its jurisdiction yesterday.

Carl Anthony Fannon/Smith, a Melbourne-based player originally from England, has been charged with misconduct. He is alleged to have knowingly and deliberately registered with two different clubs simultaneously.

He will answer the charge at an independent tribunal hearing in Melbourne on June 11.

A state investigation last month into Fannon and a player at metropolitan club Stonnington City named Carl Smith recommended a tribunal hearing.

Stonnington City has also been cited on two charges as a second party, the first for registering Fannon/Smith who was also registered with Cobram and failing to seek an international clearance for Fannon/Smith from England to Australia.

But Victorian tribunal and disciplinary manager Maxwell Gratton said charges were not laid against Cobram as it was up to the North Eastern league to investigate its own club.

``Cobram Soccer Club is not under our jurisdiction directly,'' Gratton said yesterday.

``If or when the North Eastern league investigates is their prerogative.''

Fannon won last year's North Eastern league best and fairest award by two votes from Cobram Victory player Sam Grasso.

However, he was not present at the awards night, as he had flown back to England.

THE CHARGES

Party one:

Carl Anthony Fannon/Smith is charged with misconduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of football in Victoria or to FFV, as a result of knowingly and deliberately registering with two different clubs (Cobram SC and Stonnington City) simultaneously.

Party two:

1 _ Stonnington City is charged with misconduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of football in Victoria or to FFV, as a result of registering and playing Carl Anthony Fannon/Smith who was also registered with Cobram.

2 _ Stonnington City is charged with misconduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of football in Victoria or to FFV, as a result of failing to seek an International Clearance Transfer for player Carl Anthony Fannon/Smith from England to Australia.