WORCESTER Raiders will take a step closer to discovering their league championship fate tomorrow (Thursday) – but their case will NOT be heard by Worcestershire FA.

An external FA Disciplinary Commission has been put together to decide on charges relating to the abandoned West Midlands (Regional) League Division One (WMRL) match between Bustleholme and Raiders on March 19.

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Raiders led 3-1 in the second minute of added time when the match was brought to a premature halt by referee Pete Durnall following a brawl involving players and staff from both clubs and members of the crowd.

It meant the result was scrubbed from the league standings, leaving Raiders two points shy of title rivals Darlaston Town at the summit at the end of the season.

Chairman Kevin Jenkins confirmed Raiders had denied a charge of failing to control players, management and/or supporters and that the club had submitted "a dossier" of evidence to support their case but felt it "would not be right" to comment further before the hearing.

The club will not attend the hearing which will deal with all charges relating to the match in one sitting.

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Usually, disciplinary matters at WMRL level are dealt with by county associations but can be overseen by panels of qualified adjudicators from elsewhere when deemed appropriate.

The commission will decide whether the case is proven and is expected to inform Worcestershire FA by Friday, at which point the county association will inform Raiders and the league.

It is then down to the WMRL to decide what to do about the points Raiders had been destined to earn from the match, holding the key to their title and promotion aspirations.

WMRL rule 20 E (v) reads: “The management committee shall review all competition matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both teams.

“Where it is to the advantage of the competition and does no injustice to either club, the management committee shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand.

“In all cases where the management committee are satisfied that a competition match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the competition match to the opponent.

“In cases where a competition match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their club member(s), the management committee shall rule that neither team will be awarded any points for that competition match and it shall not be replayed.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire FA confirmed the case would not be heard by them and that the league would deal with what happens to the points independently.

When asked, the spokesperson declined to comment on why Worcestershire FA would not be hearing the case but indicated it did not necessarily reflect the severity of the alleged incidents.

Neither Jenkins nor the county FA was able to confirm whether Bustleholme, whose discipline is handled by Birmingham FA, or any of their representatives face charges.