By ADEM SARICAOGLU
SUNSHINE George Cross has successfully appealed its relegation to State League Two and has been re-instated into Football Federation Victoria’s second tier competition for next season.
The club decided to have vice president David Pisani represent the Georgies in favour of the original solicitor it had locked in for Wednesday’s hearing, where it was successfully argued George Cross did not engage in a melee against Heidelberg United in a tense State League One fixture in August.
The Georgies had been relegated as a result of the initial tribunal hearing, but were strong in their belief the incident should not have constituted a melee and hence, felt they were harshly dealt with.
“We just kept telling them it wasn’t a melee,” club president Darren Farrugia said afterward.
“It was only two people pushing each other, so we didn’t class it as a melee and we just kept telling that to the tribunal.
“And for some unknown reason, Heidelberg (United) was there and they said themselves that it wasn’t a melee, and I think that’s what got us off in the end.”
Farrugia and fellow club associates were understandably relieved when the tribunal’s finding came through.
“We were just rapt,” he said. “The club doesn’t deserve it and we were just rapt when it went our way.”
Farrugia, along with Pisani, secretary Teresa Gatt and treasurer Lewis Cassar, will all be stepping down from their roles ahead of Friday’s annual general meeting.
Farrugia cited work commitments and his dissent for the FFV’s handling of both the tribunal process and the ongoing National Premier League saga as major factors in his decision.
“It’s getting a bit hard with work and you need a few days to relax, (and) with the way the federation operates, you just don’t have the time,” Farrugia said.
“I’ve just had enough of the federation and I can’t deal with them anymore.
“It’s not worth being involved.”
