This Swiss football settlement point makes teeth cringe

The Swiss Football League should order that the Aarau-Bellinzone match is completely replayed, despite the net advantage of the premises at the time of the interruption in the 65th minute. This decision, which differs from the rules applied by UEFA or Serie A, is misunderstood in both camps for different reasons.

Stefan Wyss

The Challenge League match between FC Aarau and Bellinzone last Saturday was talked about because of the weather. Abundant rains have transformed the ground into impracticable field, at least according to referee Johannes von Mandach. The latter first suspended the meeting in the 65th minute, ordering players to return to the locker room, before decree the final stop of the match.

On the Argovian side, the misunderstanding was great. Many people believe that the state of the lawn was no worse than at the start of the second period. The frustration of the FCA is also due to what happened just before the match stopped: in eight minutes, the men of Brunello Iacopetta scored three goals. At 3-1, the match seemed to turn to their advantage. The victory was within reach.

However, this effort may well have been in vain. The competent commission of the Swiss Football League (SFL) has not yet decided, but according to the signals received by Aarau from Bern, the meeting should be replayed from the start, that is to say at 0-0. Everything that happened on Saturday at Brügglifeld could therefore be canceled.

A vacuum in regulations

The possibilities of appeal for Aarau are thin. The SFL competition settlement does not expressly provide for an interrupted match. Articles 26 to 28 only deal with reports. It is therefore by analogy that the match could be considered reported or canceled.

The determining article could be number 58 of the Regulation of competitions of the Swiss Football Association (ASF), also applicable to the SFL. He stipulates that only the competent authority of the organization concerned can order the rehearsal of a match which could not take place or go to an end, unless one of the two teams is held responsible in accordance with the provisions provided.

The owner of Bellinzone claims a package

Juan Carlos Trujillo, a new owner of AC Bellinzone, said that Aarau is carrying out a responsibility in stopping the match. On X, he claimed a victory by package, invoking the intrusion of Aarau fans on the field. However, these supporters have helped to evacuate water from the lawn, with the agreement of the arbitrator.

In recent years, three games have been interrupted in professional Swiss football without a team to be faulty. In 2014, a Super League meeting between Aarau and Vaduz had been stopped after only two minutes of play due to heavy rains, before being replayed. More recently, last November, an Nyon player collapsed during a League challenge match against Vaduz, which led to the stop of the game, replayed in full.

The most discussed case dates back to eight years: a Super League match between Lugano and Saint-Gall. He had been arrested at the break, still due to the rain. Lugano then led 1-0, but the meeting had been completely replayed.

Italy does not play that the remaining time

UEFA, for its part, provides in article 27 of its regulation that only the remaining duration of an interrupted match must be played. It is also the rule applied in Italian Serie A: in the event of a weather stopper, the remaining minutes are disputed later.

But back to the Aarau – Bellinzone match. If the goals will probably be lost, supporters’ tickets remain valid, provided they have preserved them. “All the spectators of our home match are asked to keep their tickets for the replacement meeting,” the club announced, which will communicate more as soon as the SFL has officially rendered its decision.