cpwigan wrote:Other quotes;
Dave Whelan admits he would have been reluctant to stage two games in a 24 hour period
But he insisted the real reason for this play off switch was because he hadn't been give enough notice.
He said "It's not the ideal situation to have a Premier League game taking place hours after a rugby match.
We've had it before and it tooks weeks of planning, we had to arrange people to work all night to get the stadium ready.
It would be impossible to do that at such short notice."
"The Premier League fixtures have been out for 11 weeks. It has always been clear that if Wigan were at home in the play-offs there would be a clash.
Their success was unexpected. I don't think they expected to get a home match"
"I would move heaven and earth to let them play there if I could. I'm a Wigan RL fan"
Whelan added had he been asked earlier he would have asked the Premier League to delay Latics game versus Sunderland."
I have taken some time to "peruse" the Premier League Rules as per
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Handb ... 06,00.html
It states that
Rearranging fixtures
6. The Board shall have power at any time to change the date upon which a League Match is to
be played. Before exercising such power the Board will consult with and take into account any
representations made by the Clubs participating in the League Match in question and any
other Club or Clubs which may be affected thereby.
7. A Club engaged in any match played in a UEFA competition on a Thursday evening and a
League Match on the following Saturday may rearrange the League Match to the following
Sunday provided that:
7.1 it gives notice to that effect to the Secretary and to its League Match opposing Club
within 72 hours of the date of the UEFA match being fixed (or, if the period of 72 hours
expires on a day which is not a Working Day, by close of business on the first Working
Day thereafter);
7.2 there is no police objection;
109
RULES: SECTION E
7.3 the rearrangement of the League Match does not result in the opposing Club having to
play another League Match, F.A. Cup match or UEFA match within 2 days of the
rearranged League Match being played.
8. A Club may apply to the Board to rearrange a Saturday fixture so that it is played on the
preceding Friday or the following Sunday and in considering whether to exercise its power to
do so the Board shall have regard also to:8.1 the principle that such applications shall not normally be granted in respect of more
than 2 League Matches in any one week;
8.2 the effect any such rearrangements would have on published football pool coupons.
I have highlighted the main part, which clearly states that , if they so wished, Wigan Athletic could have asked for a rearrangement of the fixture, with minimum fuss.
Furthermore, there is this (which has been pointed out)
Ground Sharing
4. No Club shall have or enter into a ground-sharing agreement unless the agreement contains
a legally enforceable provision to the effect that the playing of the Club’s League Matches
shall always take precedence over the activities of the other party to the agreement.
I can find NO 48 HOUR RULE OF ANY KIND - it is as imaginary as Latic's fan's dreams that they are the "bigger" club
26. Each Club shall take all reasonable steps to maintain its pitch in good condition throughout
the Season and the Board may require a Club to take such steps as the Board shall specify if
it is not satisfied that the pitch is being maintained to an adequate standard.
27. Each Club shall provide and maintain at its registered ground an undersoil heating system or
some other adequate system of pitch protection to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board
which shall be operated to the extent necessary to procure, so far as is reasonably possible,
that the pitch is playable on the occasion of each home League Match.
Pitch Protection
28. In order to protect the pitch, unless otherwise mutually agreed between both participating
Clubs, the following procedures shall be adopted by Players and Officials in the periods
immediately before and after a League Match and at half time:
28.1 the pitch shall not be used by Players for warming up until 45 minutes before the
kick-off time;
28.2 warming up by either team shall not last for more than 30 minutes;
28.3 if portable goals are provided they shall be used for all goalkeeping drills other than
crossing practice;
28.4 the goalmouth area shall be used by goalkeepers only if portable goals are not provided
or for crossing practice and then only for not more than 20 minutes;
28.5 for the purposes of warming up each team shall use only part of the pitch between the
edge of a penalty area and the half way line or as otherwise directed by the groundsman;
28.6 all speed and stamina work shall be undertaken off the pitch parallel to the touchline
opposite the side to be patrolled by the assistant referee or, in the absence of sufficient
space, in that part of the pitch described in Rule I.28.5 above or as otherwise directed
by the groundsman;
28.7 only substitute Players who have then not played in the League Match may warm up at
half time when the requirements of Rules I.28.5 and I.28.6 shall apply and substitute
goalkeepers shall use the goalmouth areas only for crossing practice;
28.8 substitute Players using the pitch at half time as aforesaid shall give due consideration
to any other activity or entertainment taking place on the pitch at the same time;
28.9 the Home Club may water the pitch at half time provided that it gives reasonable notice
to the referee and the other Club that it intends to do so and that any such watering is
carried out evenly over the entire length and width of the pitch.
The only question possible is
"Each Club shall take all reasonable steps to maintain its pitch in good condition throughout the Season" part of the rules. However it is non-specific and categorically does not exlude the playing of two fixtures on the same ground in 24 hours if the pitch is as good as the investment in it was supposed to be.
