A claim was made to the FISTF Disciplinary Council by Josef Camilleri (MLT0014) concerning the behaviour of player Ioannis Salamouris (GRE0329) concerning breaches of the FISTF Disciplinary regulations, namely repeated swearing, abuse of opponent, breaching:
Article 14 Special Obligations of Players
14.1 Obligation of restraint: Players will show restraint during competitions, whether they are presently engaged in a match. In particular, the following will be considered as a breach of these disciplinary regulations:
(a) Negative criticism or harmful comments about another Player, Club, a referee, the head referee, a third party, the competition organiser or an MNA. Behaviour or declarations which are capable of leading to acts of violence.
(d) Swearing during the match against anyone.
(e) Insults against another Player, Club, a referee, the head referee, a third party, the competition organiser or an MNA.
Additionally, a claim has been made against referee Lazaros Papakonstantinou (GRE0001) concerning changing of referees without authority, namely breach of 2.4.3 (i) with the substitution of referee Dimitrios Kosmopoulos (GRE0136) by Papakonstantinou without the authority of the head referee and without meeting the requirements of any regulations.
2.4.3 FISTF Licensed Referees:
(f) Replacement of Referee
(i) A referee (individual or team) may be substituted by the Head Referee or by the Competition Manager before starting a match if it appears that their nationality or club could be a conflict of interest with one of the players or teams in the match. (vi) Under no circumstances may an individual player or team request a change of referee.
Further, there is an allegation of a breach of 14.1 (d) (swearing) by referee Dimitrios Stamatopoulos (GRE0013), referee of the match Mauro Camilleri (MLT0015) – Panagiotis Konstantakos (GRE0382) at player Camilleri. As the matter was raised with the FISTF DC, we asked for statements from all parties, including organiser Georgios Dimakeas.
A statement was received from Mr Dimakeas in which he confirmed the inappropriate behaviour of player Salamouris, switching of referees, and response of Bormla players.
He had no comment on referee Stamatopoulos.
A statement was received from Mauro Camilleri regarding the behaviour of referee Stamatopoulos.
No statements were provided by the named Greek players.
The Disciplinary Council has decided on the following penalties for those named.
1. Ioannis Salamouris (GRE0329) – foul and abusive language towards a competitor. Loss of tournament’s ranking points + additional 50pts deduction + requirement for a written apology within 30 days. Failure to provide a written apology will result in doubling of the points penalties.
2. Lazaros Papakonstantinou (GRE0001) – requirement for a written apology + warning (no authority to change referees). Failure to provide a written apology within 30 days will result in 50 points WR penalty.
3. Mauro Camilleri – warning (should not retaliate)
4. Josef Camilleri – warning (should not retaliate)
5. Dimitrios Kosmopoulos – warning (lack of control by referee).
6. Dimitrios Stamatopoulos (GRE0013) – warning – requirement for a written apology within 30 days (reported foul language by a referee)
7. Noctuas Athens – loss of tournament’s ranking points + requirement for a written apology within 30 days (for behaviour of team members)
All penalties and warnings will be kept by the Disciplinary Council for future reference.
Those named have 30 days to appeal these decisions.
Dr Frank Chetcuti Dimech
FISTF Disciplinary Council Chairman
