A BALLARAT North United Soccer Club official has been slugged with a one-and-a-half year suspension after an incident at a tribunal hearing in May.
However The Courier is unable to identify the individual after the Football Federation Victoria tribunal accepted the offender’s application to have their name withheld due to “non-football related matters”.
The offender originally fronted a Ballarat and District Soccer Association tribunal at Morshead Park on May 16 for a previous matter, but had their charges upgraded “due to inappropriate behaviour” at the hearing.
The offender was then forced to sit in front of an FFV panel on June 20, where they pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Courier is also unable to reveal the nature of the initial incident which bought the official before the tribunal.
In a written statement, FFV said the tribunal was an independent body, and declined to offer the reason behind the offender’s name being suppressed.
“The independent tribunal directed that the individual’s name in relation to this matter not be published, due to concerns raised by the individual in relation to non-football related matters,” the statement read.
“FFV is abiding by the independent tribunal’s direction by not publishing the name on our website.”
However, FFV also said that the tribunal was made up of volunteers who donated their time and that any misconduct at hearings would not be tolerated.
“Any misconduct or disrespect at a tribunal hearing may be a breach of the Grievance, Disciplinary and Tribunal by-laws and FFV has a zero tolerance approach to abuse of any officials in our game, including tribunal members.”
The tribunal ruling states the offender will not be allowed to have any official involvement in any FFV sanctioned football until 2018, however, they are able to attend fixtures as a spectator.
The ruling also states the offender “must complete a respect and responsibility course prior to recommencing any participation, coaching or officiating”.
Ballarat North United Soccer Club and the BDSA were both contacted by The Courier, but declined to comment.
