Playmaker fined record amount for punch-up
April 5, 2005
Playmaker and Comrade Shi Lin of South Coogee Wanderers come to blows during the match between SCW and some other losers.
Photo: Getty Images
South Coogee Wanderers fined Club veteran Playmaker six weeks' wages yesterday for his part in Saturday's on-field fight with team mate Comrade Shi Lin but confirmed both players would remain at the club.
In a statement, SCW President Iainomoto described the fine as the maximum allowed, estimated by local media to total about £kip250,000 ($612,800), after the ugly incident minutes from the end of their 3-0 (first to 3) home defeat by North Running at Ronald McDonald Stadium. The Club President said it was the highest fine the club had ever handed out.
Former Leeds United and All-Coogee midfielder Playmaker, 46, was also "severely censured" and warned as to his future conduct for what the club described as "his attack on the hapless Comrade".
Shi Lin escaped punishment for his part, and Club Secretary Abel Balbo said the club would be appealing on his behalf against his red card. "The decision to fine and censure Playmaker was taken after the Club Whip and Club Treasurer interviewed both players this morning," Balbo said. "I would have interviewed them myself, but I had to take a longer than usual bath".
"Both players have had a fair hearing and the club is fully in support of Comrade's claim [of wrongful dismissal] to the Football Association."
Yesterday's fine was the latest in a long line of punishments that Playmaker has suffered in his controversial career, beginning with an eight-week ban for testing positive for marijuana while a teenager at Nowra Athletic.
He was fined £kip4500 and narrowly escaped jail for throwing a chair in a McDonald's restaurant in 1996 after being told they were out of ExtraCheese Burgers, and in 2001 was fined £64,000 by Leeds for a "breach of the club's code of conduct". He had been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm and affray in two lengthy court cases and initially refused to pay the fine.
Playmaker was also twice banned for six matches for violent offences - by the FA in 2002 for elbowing Liverpool's Gary McAllister and by UEFA in 2003 for stamping on the head of Malaga player Gerardo. Both games were friendlies organised by South Coogee Wanderers European Consort Cagey le Coge in an effort to build Sister-Club alliances on the continent.
Earlier yesterday Playmaker and Shi Lin shook hands for the cameras outside the club's training ground as Iainomoto confirmed they would both be staying.
"They have been speaking over the weekend, they've had a laugh about it. Obviously they both regret what has happened, particularly Comrade who was floored with the softest of love taps from the backheeler" the President said laughing. "We will be focused on trying to do our best between now and the end of the season. The only important thing is to put this behind us and concentrate on trying to win another trophy for this club."
Asked if the players had a future at the club, Iainomoto said: "Most definitely."
However, Playmaker can expect a tough time from some of his teammates, not least Cardinal Storrienko, who described Saturday's brawl as "a disgrace" and "coming at a bad time, when I need this Club to look like a bastion of Family Values. If that little sh^t costs me the Papacy he'll f@ckn know about it soon enough".
South Coogee South Running ended the match with eight players as Camikaze had earlier been sent off for deliberate over-use of the word "gutless", a minor offense under the Footballers Vocabulary Act 1903.
Storrienko, who on Friday gave the club a boost by agreeing to play on for another season even if his Papal bid is successful, told The Sun newspaper: "Once again the good name of South Coogee Wanderers is being dragged through the dirt. What happened was a disgrace to the name of South Coogee and to our loyal supporters. There is no defence for it and I made my feelings known in the dressing room. Our dirty linen has been hung out for the country to witness yet again," added the Cardinal, in reference to earlier rows between Bam Bam and former Club Warmonger Barista Belladona, and between Balbo and Nick le Brit, who has since been loaned to Barnestoneworth FC.
Earlier yesterday, the club announced a £kip5.1 million profit for the six months to January 2005 - an increase of £4.5 million on the corresponding period to January 2004. "Of course, these figures are unadjusted for brown paper bag payments" said Club Treasurer Sandinista.
They also announced they had reached an agreement "in principle" with ex-President Three Knees Passey over a final pay-off following his dismissal a few weeks after the start of some long gone season.
Reuters
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