As a matter of process Football Tasmania does not normally comment on disciplinary sanctions and/or decisions made by the disciplinary Tribunal, with Communication kept between the Club and individual involved. However, given the level of public speculation and debate about this matter, Football Tasmania wishes to release the following statement regarding the Lucas Hill tribunal ruling.
In summary, the Tribunal found that there is conflict between Rule 22.2 of the FT Competition Rules and the National Disciplinary Regulations (NDRs). This relates to the method by which yellow cards are recorded, in the situation where a player receives two yellow cards and then a red card in the one match.
Rule 1.2 of the NDRs relevantly provides that Competition Rules must be standard across Australia and may be supplemented but not varied by Competitions Rules from state bodies. The Tribunal members formed the view that the variation to the Competition Rules as they related to the accumulation of yellow cards was a variation to such degree, that it was not permitted under Rule 1.2 of the NDRs.
As such the Tribunal members found that Lucas Hill was not ineligible to play in the match held on 19 July 2019 and unanimously upheld Olympia’s appeal.
Football Tasmania is currently completing our annual review of all Competition Rules which will have a focus on ensuring that the FT Competition Rules do not vary from the NDRs.