Rotherham won't appeal sanction

01 May 2015 15:47

Rotherham have decided against appealing the three-point deduction handed down by the Football League for fielding an ineligible player.

The Millers were docked the points and handed a £30,000 fine, half of which is suspended, for playing Farrend Rawson in Easter Monday's 1-0 win over Brighton after being found guilty by a three-man football disciplinary commission last week.

That punishment dragged Steve Evans' side back into a Sky Bet Championship relegation fight but it became academic after they took four points from their last two games, with Tuesday's 2-1 win over Reading confirming their status in the division.

The South Yorkshire club were given until Friday to lodge an appeal, but despite insisting the punishment was "disproportionate" they opted to accept it.

A club statement read: "Having secured our Championship place for next season on the pitch on Tuesday night, the board has decided not to appeal against the decision to deduct us three points.

"We still believe the decision to deduct three points for fielding a player as a result of an honest human error, where there was no intention to gain an unfair advantage, was disproportionate.

"Our mistake did not affect the integrity of this year's competition, but if we had been relegated in the place of a team that had secured fewer points on the pitch over the season, that would have been a gross injustice.

"As the appeal is now academic we have decided to support others who feel that it is time to change this particular rule rather than go through the appeal process.

"We would like to thank all of those at other clubs who offered us their support and sympathy during this process.

"Now we wish to draw a line under this matter and look forward to next season."

Rawson played 90 minutes of the win over Brighton after his youth loan from Derby had expired, with the correct paperwork not being completed in order to extend it.

Source: PA