AFC Wimbledon win appeal

AFC Wimbledon have won their appeal against an 18-point deduction. The decision of the Ryman League Appeal's Panel has today been reduced from 18 points to three with an increased fine.

The dispute concerned the lack of an international transfer certificate for the transfer of Jermaine Darlington from Cardiff City, who play in the English Championship but are based in Wales. An oversight at best, the volunteer form-filler had deemed such a certificate as not applicable. Yet the league punished the fledgling club severely, deducting points for every game in which the player was involved.

Represented at the tribunal for free by Jim Sturman QC, who advises Chelsea (for a fee), the club's case was clearly reasonable. AC Milan were docked four points for four years of match fixing.

AFC's appeal was bolstered by the voice of Tony Blair, whose opinion was appealed to in Prime Minister's question time. "It sounds like a daft rule, and someone should change it," said Mr Blair in response to a plea for help from Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden in a motion signed by 84 MPs.

To be docked any points at all for such a minor and unwitting misdemeanour will still rancour the fans. Not least when Liverpool and West Ham appear to have smoothed over concerns as to irregularities over the contract of Javier Mascherano.

Despite the evident inequalities in the football system, the club, founded in 2002 by Wimbledon FC supporters following the South London side's relocation to Milton Keynes and reincarnation as the MK Dons, is now back on track for promotion to the Conference South. The dream of catching their corporate rivals is still alive.