Ellan Vannin back in ConIFA after expulsion is overturned in Krakow

The ban on Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) from international competition has been overturned. The side was expelled from ConIFA on a turbulent day in London last summer after a series of events escalated.

After a series of meetings held at the temporary headquarters of the 2018 ConIFA World Cup, the organisation first backed the Manx’ complaint before a second meeting was held that provisionally expelled them.

Under the CONIFA Constitution, that expulsion required ratification from the subsequent Annual General Meeting, with a 75% majority. That meeting got underway in Krakow, Poland this morning with the item scheduled for the opening day.

During the final session of the 2019 Annual General Meeting, a secret ballot was held following statements from the Manx Independent Football Association (MIFA) and several other relevant stakeholders. Of the 208 available votes, 70 were cast in favour of expulsion, 118 were cast against expulsion and 20 votes abstained. Accordingly, the expulsion resolution did not carry and MIFA regained its CONIFA membership.

Far from getting 75%, those seeking to make the ban permanent failed to even reach 50%, with the ban being overturned by 118 votes to 70, with 20 abstentions. Each member Football Association’s vote counts for ten and the ban was overturned by 11 of them compared to six wishing to keep it. Individual members and Exco votes are worth one each and this took the final total to 70-118 with 20 abstentions.

A CONIFA Executive Committee spokesperson said on the website following the vote:

“We look forward to welcoming MIFA back into the CONIFA family. The CONIFA Executive Committee will respect the democratic will of its members.”

The disagreement began quietly in the leafy suburb of Carshalton where Cascadia were due to face Barawa in both sides’ second game. Barawa are a side representing the Somali disapora.

A player appeared on the Barawa teamsheet who had not been registered on the deadline day and whose name was previously unknown to the Cascadian tea management who had prepared thoroughly for the opponent.

Quick internet research revealed that the player, Mo Bettamer, was a very capable and experienced forward with experience in the African Cup of Nations. As a Crawley Town player, he was a significant improvement on the standard of the rest of the squad.

No other side had been informed of the rule change allowing new players to be drafted in after the deadline. The Cascadians made a complaint on the day, which was somewhat legitimised when Bettamer opened the scoring.

The Cascadians came back to win the game 2-1 and they decided to let the matter go.

However Barawa’s next opponents were the Isle of Man who were also aware that Bettamer had been added contrary to tournament rules. They indicated that they would complain formally if he played in the group’s final game, a key qualification game. However, despite knowing what lay ahead, he appeared on the Barawa teamsheet and was a key figure in defeating the Manx and eliminating them from the tournament.

The Islanders appealed.

On the first vote, their appeal was upheld and an apology tendered, but a second meeting was held that night that confirmed Ellan Vannin’s elimination and furthermore allowed Bettamer to continue to play in the knock out rounds.

The Isle of Man declined to take further part in the tournament which had a playoff series for those eliminated in the group stage. They had won their first two matches with a squad increasingly needing patched up and then lost the third group game to a side allowed to bring in new players after the deadline.

The row erupted on social media with intemperate statements coming from both sides. The result was that Ellan Vannin were provisionally expelled from ConIFA, pending ratification.

Cooler heads have now prevailed and both ConIFA President Per-Anders Blind and Cascadia President Aaron Johnsen were jubilant after the meeting, relieved and happy that peace had prevailed amid rumours of litigation, and perpetual strife affecting the young organisation’s growth.

Johnsen who was at the meeting in Krakow told Prost:

“The word that kept coming up today was family. ConIFA is a family. Like all families, we have disagreements but today we came together.”

Without doubt today represents a big step forward for the organisation which has overcome its first hurdle responsibly and democratically.

It is also a huge victory for Blind who had not sought out the harsh punishment for the Manx and had tried to broker peace in London.

Cooler and wiser heads have prevailed and there are more encouraging times ahead for the nascent organisation that gives a voice to those FIFA declines to allow to be represented.

Also See:

Mo Bettamer – The man who got a country expelled from ConIFA lands on his feet at Barnet

Manx FA react furiously to rejection of Bettamer appeal

ConIFA offered to apologise to the Manx IFA and people, hours before dramatic expulsion

ConIFA expel Isle of Man

Should Ellan Vannin appeal their elimination?

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