With regards to the recent disciplinary action taken against the University of

Nottingham Mens Football Club, the club would like to release the following
statement.
Following an incident that occurred last year, there have been a number of
sanctions imposed upon the mens football club by the Students Union. These
sanctions have been extensive, ranging from conditions such as the undertaking
of voluntary community service, to the decision to remove our first team from
competing in the Varsity fixture against Nottingham Trent. Whilst the club will
not divulge the intricacies of the case, we feel it is important that the student
body are made aware of our current stance. In relation to the punishments
imposed upon both the club and the committee, we feel that they have been
extremely excessive and are not in keeping with the punishments of other clubs
within the university, who have been deemed to have committed far worse
offences. The club believes that being made an example of is an understandable
form of deterrent, however this deterrent loses considerable value when it is not
consistent and applied in the same manner to all clubs who are alleged to have
committed offences. Although it was deemed that a breach had occurred, the
facts of the case were far from straightforward. This is reflected in our attempts
to appeal the original decision and subsequently this right to appeal being
accepted by the Students Union. Although the appeal lodged was largely
unsuccessful, the club felt it crucial to convey our views to the appeals panel and
pursue our right to defend ourselves.
With regards to Varsity, the club are aware of what this fixture means to the vast
majority of the student body, and as such we are devastated that we will no
longer be able to perform due to an isolated incident. Representing your
university at Varsity is what makes 7am training sessions, constant fitness tests
and hours of devotion to the club worthwhile, and to have this taken away is
extremely disappointing. The knock on effects of this are also severe, with
Nottingham Trent losing a fixture against the mens football club that they
undoubtedly relish, as well as the club no longer being able to participate and
support an event that raises both money and awareness for charity.
Nonetheless, the football club will now look to the future and attempt to finish
the season strongly. There is a fantastic spirit within the club, from the newest
members who have settled in incredibly well, to the more senior members who
continue to be exemplary in their leadership. This has, and always will be a key
feature of our club. The club hopes that this statement provides some clarity on
our position at the current time and our disappointment regarding recent events.
We would also like to ask that the pursuit of statements from members within
the club is avoided during this busy exam period, with which we wish the entire
student body the best of luck.