‘Mercy rule’ introduced by the North Wales Coast FA into women’s football is a joke

The North Wales Coast Women’s Football League’s introduction of a ‘mercy rule’ limiting defeats reportable on the Cymru Football App to eight goals is a farce.
On Sunday, Llangefni Town Ladies beat Towyn 15-0 but when the Ynys Môn team tried to report the result on the App, they learned the maximum goals that could be listed is eight.
CPD Pwllheli faced a similar situation last month when they were forced to report a North Wales Coast Challenge Cup tie as a 9-1 victory but they actually won 14-2.
Llangefni’s score from Sunday reads as 8-0 on the App, but on the club’s Facebook page and on Grassroots North Wales the correct 15-0 score is published.
This scoreline censorship by the NWCFA is a disgrace and a joke.
One can understand a ‘mercy rule’ operating in junior football where no doubt heavy defeats can have a negative effect on very young players.
However, this is adult football we are talking about.
Scorelines have not been restricted before, so why start now?
Look at Llangefni Town Ladies and Flint Town United Ladies.
When they started off, heavy losses were suffered quite regularly in the early days. Neither club ever hid from the fact they faced initial struggles and took their lumps and bruises.
Look at them now. Flint flying high in Tier 2 Adran North and Llangefni a second-tier team in all but name and reigning Tier 3 champions. They lost, they learned, then they thrived.
Towyn are a young, developing side who will turn the corner. 

They certainly won’t lose every game 15-0 for the rest of the season and are more than capable of winning a few. Lessons will be learned, character will be built – that’s adult football.

This pathetic new rule from the NWCFA borders on sexism.

What are they saying? “Let’s go easy on the women when they lose heavily, but not the men”?
Grassroots North Wales will endeavour to get the correct scores every week and list every scorer in men’s and women’s football.
What if the North Wales Coast Women’s League title goes down to goal difference? Could a team lose out because half the goals they scored weren’t registered? How can an accurate league table be kept?
And we run a Goalden Girl goalscorers competition every season which is very popular. Where does this leave us with regards to that?
Players getting robbed of goals they scored legitimately? All goalscorers deserve a mention, simple as. It boosts confidence and belief.
Apparently, Llangefni only learned of this ridiculous rule on Sunday when they tried to enter their goalscorers.
Introducing a rule before telling the clubs? Nothing new from this organisation to be honest.
Grassroots North Wales has contacted NWCFA Women’s League co-ordinator Matthew Greenough and the FAW for their views. We await a response.
Women’s football is getting badly treated throughout Wales, this is just another example of it.
We’re already suffering from a pyramid system where a Tier 2 league title winner has to play off for promotion to reach the top flight. Champions, if they meet the necessary criteria, should go up, no exceptions, no ifs or buts.
We need a proper promotion and relegation system in Welsh domestic women’s football like exists in other countries. Otherwise, what’s the point in having a pyramid at all?
I’ve seen some brainless policies introduced in Welsh football over the years, but a ‘mercy goals rule’ in adult football?
I’d advise clubs to protest en masse over this.
Here’s the email address: competitions@nwcfa.org – mine has already been sent.