Taunton Town, who drew 2-2 with National League side Barrow in the FA Cup yesterday, have been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player on the opening day of the season.
This is from the Southern League website:
The sanction was confirmed on Monday in a written league statement after an appeal by the EVO-STIK League Southern Division One South & West club to the Football Association was dismissed.
Issued at 10am, the statement read: "Further to an incident on Saturday 6 August 2016 in which Taunton Town fielded a substitute player who was not registered with the Southern League in a match at Shortwood United in Division One South & West, the club was charged with fielding an ineligible player in accordance with league rules.
"Following consideration of correspondence from the club, the Southern League Board found the club guilty, fined and deducted the three points gained from the match. The club subsequently appealed the decision to the FA, which was heard on Monday 31 October 2016.
"The result of the said appeal hearing was communicated by the FA in correspondence stating: 'The league had acted in accordance with the competition rules for such a breach. The sanction imposed by the league on the club was reasonable and therefore, the ground of appeal that the decision was excessive is dismissed'.
"The deduction of points will be shown on the league table with immediate effect and no further statement will be made by the Southern League."