01/12/2026
Houston Royals FC – Official Statement
Subject: Formal Protest Against Unjust and Arbitrary Decision-Making
Houston Royals FC hereby issues this formal statement to express our strong and unequivocal disagreement with the actions taken by the organizers during the 1st CSFC New Year Cup 2026.
On 10 January 2026, during a league-phase match between Houston Royals FC and Pearland Cobra FC B, a Houston Royals player was issued a red card for handball. Subsequently, during the quarterfinal match between Houston Royals FC and 3 Star FC, the same player participated in the match.
After the first 15 minutes of play, the organizers abruptly halted the match to raise concerns regarding the player’s eligibility. Following a direct consultation with the match referee—who clearly confirmed that league-phase disciplinary cards do not carry over into the knockout stages—the organizers and the opposing team explicitly agreed with this ruling, and the match was allowed to continue. Houston Royals FC went on to win the match 4–0 on the field.
However, after the final result, the organizers revisited the matter and unilaterally decided to overturn the completed match and order a replay, despite no new evidence or rule violation being presented. This reversal represents a serious breach of sporting integrity and procedural fairness.
Houston Royals FC chose to comply with the decision to replay the match solely to preserve the spirit of competition and out of respect for fellow teams. This decision must not, under any circumstances, be interpreted as acceptance or endorsement of the organizers’ actions.
We wish to state clearly that Rule #14 of the official rulebook explicitly affirms that the referee’s decision is final. In this case, two independent referees officiating on the same matchday—across different fields—both confirmed that league-phase red cards do not carry into knockout rounds. By overriding these decisions, the organizers acted in direct contradiction to their own written regulations, setting a deeply troubling precedent.
Houston Royals FC finds this course of action arbitrary, unjust, and demonstrably biased. The manner in which this situation was handled has caused significant damage to the credibility of the tournament and has left our club feeling unfairly targeted and deeply aggrieved.
In light of these events, and in order to uphold our core values of fairness, transparency, and respect for the game, Houston Royals FC has made the firm decision not to participate in any future events organized by CSFC until clear accountability is established and consistent adherence to the official rules is restored.
This statement is issued to formally record our protest and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the integrity of competitive football.
Houston Royals FC
