http://www.kentsportsnews.com/scally-gills-charged-by-the-fa-24-10-2014/ Not looking good is it. Frankly McCammon is the worst player I have ever seen in a Gillingham shirt but he did win his case and now this. This begs the question what of Hess? He was specifically named in the original case and yet now works for the club again? If this charge sticks surely he has to go and god only knows what punishment the FA will hand out, I think they would be able to do anything from a fine to a points deduction and even force a sale. EDIT - I just read via the FA that in any E3 charge if racism is attached the standard rule is any fine is immediately doubled and a ban from football added. Dark times.
So the Club and it's chairman have been charged with unfair racial victimisation when it dismissed Mark McCammon ( on the BBC News ) I expect that we'll hammered financially - so no chance of funds new players in January. It's funny how you can be convicted of rape and still expect offers of employment in football - and if you dare to claim to be a forward ( 5 goals in 3 years ) and moan when the club want you to prove your credentials during an individual test - and because you claim you can't get to the venue - when millions of other people in the country managed their journies - you get upset when the club sack you ( with even more money for you ) What is it with certain footballers - who think that they are untouchable. Apart from Government ( and banking ), what other industries reward people for abject failure or extreme crime.
What punishment would we fans be able to stomach ? How about the deduction of points created by McCammon scoring the winning goal in a league game --- can't be more than one or two. On a more serious note I fear that the actual punishment will include points deduction that ensure relegation this season. Racism is a hot topic within football - and I expect the FA to use a couple of sledgehammers. We are doomed.
It's going to be massive, chance to the FA to flex it's muscle and make a big point. Despite everything about McCammon facts are facts, Gills lost the court case, this is the logical next step.
Merged as requested, I'm also going to post a BBC link, as it links to some of the other previous details...http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29760962 As always please be careful lads what you say, I really don't want law writs getting chucked at us.
I would suggest that it's the FA that are bringing the game into disrepute, why bring this up now when the supposed offence took place 3 years ago. Are the FA so far out of touch that this has only just come to their attention.
I think everyone (including Maccammon) knows that he would have been treated in exactly the same way if he had been white and that no discrimination was intended. The problem is that procedures were not in place to ensure he was treated fairly and responsibility for the absence of procedures falls fairly and squarely on the Board. Unfortunately Scally has to take the consequences. The best we can hope for is for the FA to act sensibly but the absence of proper procedures (which any other business would have in place) he has brought the game into disrepute. Maccammon will be laughing.
What I'm not understanding regardless of opinions, why has the FA decided now and taken so long to come to their decision?
brb - I guess that the FA have had their lawyers look into this in very fine detail. Whilst there would appear to be a prima facie case against Gills once the tribunal had ruled against them and the appeal failed, the FA would certainly not want to get egg on their faces by losing a charge like this, at this time more than any other. It's absolutely gut wrenching, but given what has passed (legally) I would be disappointed if the club put up much of a defence. I just think it would be better to accept the charge and whatever punishment is meted out and move on. The quicker this episode is finally consigned to history the better.
itstimupnorth - fair enough. Although with the FA I think the point i would raise is that under tribunal laws do they not only have to find in favour 50.01 %, completely contrast to a court of law. Personally i always felt it was more of an administration error on the club's part, does that constitute any form of racism, well clearly the tribunal made a decision. As for the original stories in the media about the snow, I was very vocal in the past, how i had to drive two hours to work in it on the same date, and my boss would have given no sympathy to my non arrival for sure. Was there any inconsistency's in my same situation, yes there was, I will leave my thoughts there.
I think that a points deduction is highly likely, I said when the matter was originally in the news that the FA would make an example of us and I fear that the punishment will be engineered to almost guarantee our relegation this season. I wholeheartedly agree with both throw and always in the first 2 posts and I still find it 'interesting' that the other players mentioned by our ex number 9 as also being treated in the same manner, have never actually come out and supported his claims.
I desperately want to say more on this subject - but I find myself keep on cancelling what I write - for fear of litigation ( nothing racist ) I find it staggering that any employee can complain when an employer, after supporting and handsomely paying an employee for 3 years - for so little product ( 5 goals ), finally asks the employee to leave - and still gives the employee a load more money. I also find it incredible that the employment tribunal ruled that the administrative blunders by the club were racially motivated. I don't doubt that there might have been emotional words said between the parties involved - maybe understandable when an employer has finally had enough - but from what was disclosed, was there actual (independently proven) words that were racially offensive. The way I understood it, Gills were more guilty of secretarial blunders concerning a black skinned employee- maybe having a knee jerk reaction to what the club saw as a weak excuse by an employee for non attendance for review - and forgot due diligence. Can somebody explain to me how those set of circumstances suddenly become a race crime. My understanding of employment laws is that the burden of proof for accusations are lower than the required level in a criminal court. I submit that this allows for multi - tier justice - which doesn't sit well with the precept that a person is innocent - until PROVEN otherwise. I firmly believe ( from the evidence that I have seen ) that the Club is only guilty of maladministration - NOT racism. - -but will the F.A. see it that way ?
alwaysright - from my knowledge i'm sure without research it only has to be more than 50% in doubt....so if the tribunal found 51% in favour of an employee then it would be case upheld. I've seen many cases in various employment where people over step the mark one way or another and don't realise it. It only takes one person somewhere to make a claim against someone's behaviour/treatment and your screwed so to speak. I think it was once said to me, majority of the time it is not any one has greatly done anything wrong but just that managers are very naive when it comes to employment law.
brb I can accept the concept that there only needs to be 50+% 'proof' - but, regarding the 'racial' aspect of the situation -I find it incredible that - in the absence of a confession - that there was any INDEPENDENT witness to corroborate the accusation by McCammon. -- the admin stuff was easy enough to prove and wasn't contested. I doubt that the FA will throw the book at us for an office error - but will crucify the Club for an 'offence' which McCammon has not proved. Just because McCammon has made a claim of racism doesn't mean it happened - whatever happened to British justice ? For anyone interested in doing a bit of forward planning (2015/16) - the postcode for Barnet's current stadium is HA8 6AG
alwaysright - in regards to personal thoughts I might not disagree with you privately....sadly they got us over a barrel mate and there is nothing i can see the club can do about it at the moment. Talking more personally, I remember a situation many years ago, where i reprimanded an individual for using machinery in manner that was a risk to himself and blooming an absolute danger to other people. He was such an arrogant gobby individual he felt he was beyond reproach. Now i'm consistent I speak to everyone the same, it might not make me many friends but i'm consistent. But guess what this guy was black....yup you got it....so what did he do....try and play the race card...i was gobsmacked. It never even got off the ground and many of my other black friends told him in language i cannot print on here he was a disgrace. And all because his personality felt that he was not allowed to be challenged. It's just laughable when i look back really, if he had injured anyone my backside would have been dragged over the coals but then when you deal with a situation you run the fear wrongly that the race card might get played....purely and solely because he was black!
I can't believe some people think we should except this without a fight, just suppose the FA decide to throw us out of the league, should we except that without a fight? Scally lives abroad, how will that effect him if convicted of racism? Already the news is being reported in the US, New Zealand and other countries, this won't go away because we bury our head in the sand, we are not a racist club and for the FA to start getting involved 3 years after the alleged offence is a disgrace, other racist claims against the big boys were dealt with after weeks why are we being treated differently.
Let's assume we get say a 10 point deduction. With fans probably fed up with the way we play , and as we are already looking as if we are in a relegation battle, a points deduction will almost certainly see us in L2 next season.How many of our long suffering fans will still be going next season ,especially if Taylor is still there and Scally won't / can't be able to invest any money in the team ? I have severe doubts that the present side could get us back up. This could spell the end of gills as a league club within the next 2 or 3 years . Sorry to seem so gloomy but that's how I see it panning out. Scally through cutting corners over getting rid of McGammon won't be seen in history as our saviour, but as the architect of GFCs demise.
I think that's unfair vinney to say cutting corners. It's not until you are thrown in these situations you might look back and think well i could have dotted the i's and crossed the t's better.
