Misconduct Charge For Local Manager

Local football manager Sean Hamill, is in hot water over comments on local sports forum www.PST-UK.co.uk

The local Huntingdonshire FA, with whom Hamill's FC Bauer side are registered with, are levying him with the misconduct charge of "bringing the game into disrepute"; for voicing his opinion and seeking the advice of his peers.

The furore is surrounding a discussion thread entitled "Xmas Joke", whereby Hamill (under the pseudonym "Back Of The Net") had mentioned that he was asked by the Hunts FA to submit a statement of accounts for FC Bauer, relating to the past five years of their involvement within the Peterborough Sunday Morning Football League.

Under County FA rules, each club within the local leagues is required to submit a Statement of Accounts to the County FA at the end of each season. The Northants FA had not ever enforced this rule with his Club, according to Hamill, who balances the care of his young family with running the team of close friends.

As far as www.PST-UK.co.uk are concerned, Sean Hamill has their full support and they feel that a charge of misconduct to their member - Mr Hamill - is an affront to the very reason why their site exists.

Site partner, Raphael Frascogna commented: "The ethos of the site is to provide our members with a public platform to air thoughts and opinions on any issues relating to local and national sport. We are not censored and not affiliated to any company, any particular football association or governing body. For the Hunts FA to use one of our members comments, as a reason for 'bringing the game into disrepute' is ridiculous, I am personally disgusted at their behaviour as they have not even bothered to contact us and discuss the possibility of us removing comments if they feel them unjust. To ignore that route and launch an attack on any individual for posting his or her own opinion on our website really does seem like a bit of a witch-hunt against that individual and I will be personally supporting Sean Hamill when he has the opporunity to contest the charge."

He continued: "Our members range from local footballers, managers, FA members, referees and also those not actively involved in local sport, who want to air their views on a particular topic. We only draw the line at any comments/topics that are intended to harm or cause offence; which is also the main limitation to any freedom of speech. It is our opinion, that Hamill has merely acted to seek advice and support on his initial situation from his peers, which was not forthcoming from his County FA who are supposed to be the main source of support and governance for any club registered to them. Hamill does make it clear as to what he thought of the Hunts FA at the time, but he does clearly state it’s 'just his own opinion' and as such he should be allowed to air it publicly. If anyone takes offence to that then they are always welcome to contact us and discuss it, or take two minutes to register with www.PST-UK.co.uk and post their own view on the subject, as many others have chosen to do so too"

This season, FC Bauer were forced by the Hunts FA to switch to their Jurisdiction from the Northants FA as they cover the geographical region of the Ortons where Hamill's team are based.

A fine relating to supplying accounts to the Hunts FA prompted Hamill to contact the Hunts FA Secretary in the first instance and the situation has escalated from that point onwards.

To date, www.PST-UK.co.uk have not received any contact or enquiry from the Hunts FA, who have chosen to go directly to the member of our community.

Hunts FA Secretary Mark Frost, refused to comment "as the case is sub judice".

Discuss this, or any other stories that you feel strongly about, in our forum.
________________________

NB: "International, regional and national standards denote that freedom of speech, as the freedom of expression, includes any medium, be it orally, in written, in print, through the Internet or through art forms. This means that the protection of freedom of speech as a right includes not only the content, but also the means of expression" (source: Andrew Puddephatt, Freedom of Expression, The essentials of Human Rights, Hodder Arnold, 2005, pg.128)