Futsal play-off decider on pause

The Futsal Play-off decider which will decide who represents Gibraltar in the futsal Champions League preliminary round will await a decision by Europe on whether to appeal the sanction imposed on them just twenty-four hours before their second leg match.
Europa, who had won the first leg on penalties after the match had ended in a 3-All draw against Lynx, were to bounce back this weekend after the decision to forfiet the match and give Lynx the win by the Gibraltar disciplinary committee.
Europa were to come away this Saturday with a 4-3 victory at the Tercentenary Sports Hall levelling the tie and leaving the disciplinary panels decision over any potential appeal, or a third leg match to decide who will go into the Champions League.
The match was to see Europa players don tee-shirts before the match protesting the decision and was to see some heated exchanges on the pitch in what was described as a “fiery, nasty” encounter by neutral observers.
Europa FC were dealt a heavy blow on the eve of the second leg play-off with the announcement by the Gibraltar FA that the first leg match of the Futsal Play-off finals, which they had come away with a win on penalties, had been given to Lynx.
After an investigation a breach of the rules was found leading the Gibraltar FA to impose a sanction on Europa which now sees the tables turned unless Europa can successfully appeal the decision.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon the Gibraltar FA said, "The Gibraltar Football Association has carried out an investigation following the first match of the Futsal Premier Final Four Playoffs series (“Playoffs”) between Lynx FC v Europa FC, on the 19th May 2024, in which Europa FC won 4-2 on penalties.
The Gibraltar FA’s Disciplinary Team has found that Europa FC failed to comply with the requirement to submit its Team Sheet, one hour before the scheduled kick-off time, resulting in a breach of section 15.1 of the Association’s Futsal League Rules 23/24.
Breaching this rule and the consequent participation, in the match, of ineligible players has been considered by the Disciplinary Team to be a breach of Schedule 1 of the Disciplinary Regulations 23/24 (the “DR”), namely Schedule 1 (b) which, in turn, results in a breach of Section 37.2 of the DR. (All these rules are available to view on the Gibraltar Fa’s Website).
As a result of the above rule breaches, the first leg of the Futsal Play off finals series has been declared a forfeit and Lynx FC have been awarded a 5-0 win. Europa FC have also been fined £100.00.
Europa FC are entitled to appeal the decision, and have until 5th June 2024 to do so. If they do, the potential third match in the Futsal Playoff series finals may need to be postponed pending their appeal process.”
Even if Lynx had won Saturdays match there would have been no trophy presentation at the full time whistle, as Europa FC have until Wednesday 5th June 2024 to submit an appeal. If no appeal is filed by this deadline date. Since Europa FC have now won match 2, if they do not appeal the GFA’s decision above, then the third and final match of the Final will be played, as planned, on the 8th June 2024.
Should Europa FC win the second match and do successfully appeal the GFA’s decision to forfeit the first match, they will be declared the futsal Playoff series winners.

Pics by Brandon Avellano