Queens

Queens banned from Challenge Cup for three years

Leeds-based community club Queens ARLFC have been banned from competing in the Carnegie Challenge Cup for the next three years following the violent scenes which marred their third round tie against Doncaster earlier this year.

Queens were barred from the competition until 2013 by a RFL Tribunal which found that they had engaged in conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game and had failed to take all necessary precautions to prevent their supporters from acting in a threatening manner.

The Yorkshire League team were also found to be in breach of the RFL’s Respect policy which states that “unsporting language, harassment or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.”

The Tribunal ruled that before they can be considered for re-entry to the Challenge Cup Queens must satisfy the RFL that they have taken measures to ensure there will be no repeat of the behaviour at Doncaster.

The third round tie at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday March 7 was abandoned in the 61st minute because of fighting in the crowd which threatened to spill over on to the pitch. More than 20 officers from South Yorkshire Police were called to the stadium to restore order.

Doncaster, who led 16-12 when the referee halted proceedings, subsequently progressed to the fourth round when the RFL Board of Directors ruled that the result should stand.

The RFL’s official investigation into Doncaster’s organisation of the match and the behaviour of their supporters is still ongoing.

Queens were found to have breached the following:

Rule D1:8

A Person subject to the Operational Rules shall be guilty of misconduct if he/she/it:

(c) engages in conduct which is prejudicial to the interests of the Game or which is improper conduct;

Rule D1.10

(b) Each Club is responsible to the RFL for the actions of its directors, players, officials, employees, representatives, spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters and is required to use its Best Endeavours to take all precautions necessary to ensure that they do not act unlawfully and to prevent directors, players, officials, employees, representatives, spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters from threatening, abusing or assaulting directors, officials, players, spectators, safety staff or any other person or damaging their property or the ground or any property, or invading the pitch or pitch surrounds or throwing missiles on the pitch or acting in a disorderly or improper manner either at its ground or at the ground of an opponent or at a neutral venue before, during or after the conclusion of Matches or otherwise behaving in an unruly or unlawful manner or in a manner which, in the opinion of the Compliance Manager, is prejudicial to the Game or amounts to improper conduct. Any Club which fails to discharge its responsibility in this regard shall be guilty of misconduct.

E4 Respect Policy

Respect the match official’s decisions – don’t complain or argue about decisions during or after a game. Behave! Unsporting language, harassment or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.