The Competition and Sports Discipline Committee of the Inter-Island Football Federation of Las Palmas has sanctioned Francisco José Saavedra "Tata", a player from Puerto del Carmen, with two years and one match for the aggression against referee Hugo Ricardo Delgado. During this time, the footballer will not be able to play in any federated football and futsal discipline, nor will he be able to have a license as a monitor to coach a grassroots football team.
As every Wednesday, the Competition Committee ruled on the sanctions corresponding to last weekend's matchday, and dealt with the incidents that occurred in Saturday's match between CD Tahíche and Puerto del Carmen, corresponding to the First Regional play-off. After analyzing these events, it decided to sanction Francisco José Saavedra with two years and one match, in application of articles 76 and 65 of the Disciplinary Regulations of the Canary Islands Football Federation.
Article 65 states that "the sanction will be for a period of six months and one day to three years if the injured party, even without suffering injury, requires medical assistance or, even without it, it is considered that there was a serious risk, given the nature of the action, provided that it does not constitute a more serious offense".
The events occurred on Saturday at the Municipal Stadium of Tahíche. Fran "Tata" committed a foul on the touchline and the referee Hugo Ricardo Delgado showed him the second yellow card of the match. According to the referee's report, the player addressed the referee with insults and headbutted him, impacting against the referee's cheekbone. It was the 89th minute of the match, which had to be suspended with the score of 3 to 1 in favor of CD Tahíche.
Other players involved
The referee's report of Hugo Ricardo Delgado not only includes the aggression of Fran "Tata", but also emphasizes the aggression against the referee's informant, Antonio García, by the Puerto del Carmen player Cristofer Medina. Both Cristofer Medina and Francisco José Saavedra had to testify this Wednesday in the Courts of Arrecife, in a quick trial of misdemeanors. Medina assured the judge that he did not kick the referee's informant, but that it was he who "collided" against his foot, while Francisco José Saavedra "Tata" admitted that he confronted the referee, but assured that he did not hit him, he only put "face to face".
Likewise, the referee also included in his report the names of two more players from Puerto del Carmen, who allegedly insulted and threatened the referee. The Competition Committee has not ruled on a sports sanction for these two players and for Cristofer Medina, but it is expected to do so in next week's session, once the report and the evidence provided have been studied.
In addition, the Committee has declared the match between CD Tahíche and Puerto del Carmen finished, as it only had one minute and injury time left. The result has therefore remained at 3 to 1 in favor of CD Tahíche. This result qualifies CD Tahíche for the final of the First Regional play-off, with Haría CF as their rival. The tie will begin on Friday night with the first leg at the Ladislao Rodríguez Bonilla stadium in Haría.
