Referee Hatzidakis: I made a mistake to send off Nathan Paul

MAIDSTONE UNITED received some good news from Soho Square this afternoon following the club’s appeal over the dismissal of Nathan Paul in the away game against Ramsgate on 2nd September.

Following a meeting of the FA’s Regulatory Commission earlier today, it has been decided that the original three match suspension incurred by Nathan Paul for "serious foul play" be overturned.

The Regulatory Commission viewed a DVD of the incident supplied from club cameraman John Gooch in making this decision and were satisfied that the club’s appeal was valid. Therefore, Nathan Paul will not serve a three game playing ban.

A statement issued by Maidstone United on their website www.maidstoneunited.co.uk, said: "The football club would like to formally thank to thank the staff at the FA’s Disciplinary Department for their guidance and advice in this matter, particularly the advice offered by Disciplinary Manager Mark Dennis.

"Thanks must also be offered to the match referee from the game, Mr Hatzidakis. Despite dismissing Nathan Paul during the game at Ramsgate, the referee was prepared to entertain the views of Maidstone United club officials regarding the dismissal immediately after the game.

"In the days following the game at Ramsgate, Mr Hatzidakis contacted the club after having re-viewed the incident on the Maidstone United website, to inform the club that he would be supporting our appeal as he believed that the footage of the incident showed his initial decision to be incorrect.

"Maidstone United would like to publicly thank Mr Hatzidakis for his high degree of integrity and professionalism shown throughout the appeal process."

Article courtesy of www.maidstoneunited.co.uk