Officials resign over "civil war" caused by SFA's "Comet" computer system (2024)

Grassroots football officials have resigned in frustration after the implementation of a new computer system caused “civil war” in their association.

Three highly respected organisers in Dundee announced their immediate resignation, claiming the Scottish Football Association’s complex new “Comet” system has forced them out.

Stuart Chaplin, of the Dundee and District Youth Football Association, penned a “newsflash” that blasted the registration system that many have claimed was rushed into operation, leading to thousands of youngsters being sidelined by match postponements as the new seasons started.

The Daily Record has told how players and officials feel they are being forced out of the game after being caught in a registration log-jam within the new system.

Chaplin, along with long serving colleagues Jim Falconer and Fraser Mortimer, have withdrawn from the East Region Committee of the DDYFA.

And the men made clear they were slapping responsibility for the upcoming Scottish Cup back to the beleaguered Scottish Youth Football Association, which is administering the Comet system on behalf of the SFA.

Chaplin told all teams via the association’s website: “Please note that with immediate effect Jim Falconer, Fraser Mortimer and myself have resigned from the East Region Committee.

“Any queries regarding this year’s Scottish Cup should be directed to Olivia and Mitch at Hampden as it is no longer our responsibility.

“Further to this, I am also considering standing down as DDYFA League Secretary. Various reasons really, Comet and everything associated with it.

“It’s a mess and despite telling teams repeatedly that I have no way of helping them with player or officials registrations the constant emails, positive and negative, regarding this is taking its toll.”

Chaplin said that the failure of some teams to get official recognition for staff and players on Comet had led to rampant rule breaking and acrimony within the association.

The officials have faced furious insults and antagonism from some quarters for their insistence on sticking to the SYFA rules.

This meant banning teams from playing matches if they are not officially registered on Comet, which caused a backlash.

Chaplin also reveals that some teams have taken to the field without correct PVG (protecting Vulnerable Groups) certification, which requires Disclosure Scotland to verify that adults are of suitable character to work with kids.

He said: “One team/club are continually breaking every rule regarding coaches and first aiders qualifications yet try and turn the situation on its head and blame me for their rule breaking.

“Forged teamlines, clubs sending coaches to take teams that have no qualifications no PVG (yes) but I’m an embarrassment and disgrace for trying to keep children safe.

“Currently I’m working 10-14 hours a day for DDYFA and it’s just too much!”

One source close to the DDYFA said the situation had been akin to “civil war”.

The source said: “Stuart, Jim and Fraser are hugely respected and have dedicated their lives to grassroots football in Dundee.

“They’re not the type to court controversy but this Comet system has caused so much anger and they have been forced to bear the brunt of it.

“Stuart has simply followed the SFA edict in stating that matches can’t be played when teams don’t have their personnel fully registered.

“He’s been working 15 hours a day on this - and I know he spent one entire night without sleep, trying to help smooth out registrations.

“But the abuse he’s had coming back has been furious and personal. He’s just had enough.”

The source added: “It’s turned into a civil war between league officials and some teams.

“The Comet system was rushed through too fast, forced on volunteers who have no idea what is expected of them to get through the registration process.

“It’s not an appropriate system for grassroots football.”

The Daily Record has told how the introduction of Comet - which has been adopted in many other football associations internationally - resulted in a log-jam for many teams and clubs.

The SFA has claimed that appropriate notice and guidance was given for the migration from the SFA’s former registrations system.

The three officials who resigned were not available for comment.

An SFA spokesperson doubled down on the organisation’s stance that Comet has been launched with adequate training.

The spokesperson said more than 47,000 grassroots players across Scotland have been registered on the system – a figure that is in line with this stage of the season in recent years prior to Comet.

The spokesperson added: “The Scottish FA have committed to extensive training and online tutorials for users at all levels of the game both before and after the launch of the COMET system and we are actively providing additional support to any users that require it.

“We reiterate that the Scottish FA has put in place mechanisms to ensure that there is no impediment to any matches going ahead as normal in the initial stages following the system’s launch, and that if any league has opted not to play matches this is not as a result of the technology upgrade but a decision made by that league or organisation.”

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