Spanish FA revoke fine for infant cancer message

The Appeals Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Friday revoked what has become one of their most controversial decisions in recent months. This decision doesn't involve Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos or Leo Messi, but Jonathan Megia Ruiz' Jona', as he is known a striker for Spanish Second Division club Real Jaen. Jona's 'offence' was foul play, hitting an opponent, diving or cheating in any way. Last weekend he scored the first of his side's two goals against Las Palmas and after doing that in his celebrations he lifted up his team shirt to reveal a t-shirt underneath bearing the message "Animo pequeninnes: Dia Mundial contra el Cancer Infantil', which can be roughly translated as "be brave little ones: World Day against Infant Cancer." His message of hope earned him a fine of 2,000 euros. To put that into perspective: Atletico Madrid were recently fined 600 euros when Cristiano Ronaldo was hit on the head by a cigarette lighter while leave the pitch in the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Ronaldo himself was fined just over a 1,000 euros after being sent off away to Athletic Club Bilbao after raking his fingers along the side of Carls Gurpegui's face and then squaring up to Gurpegui's team-mate Ander Iturraspe, while last Saturday's incident which saw a teargas canister thrown onto the pitch at Villarreal's El Madrigal Stadium earned Villarreal a 4,000 euro fine. It is true that Jona's action contravenes the rules in Spain, although FIFA's guidelines insist: "The basic equipment cannot contain phrases with religious, political or personal motives;" in Spain the rule is more wide ranging, saying that showing any kind of "publicity, motto, text, signs, anagrams or drawings, whatever their contents, will be sanctioned with a fine of between 2-3,000 Euros." And harsh though it seem, that is exactly what Jona's kind-hearted gesture did. "I am surprised because my only aim was to show my support for children with cancer," said Jona on hearing of his fine. However, it didn't take long for the reaction to begin with the story taking off on social network sites with fans from all over Spain outraged at the punishment given to the player. The story was reported in the papers and an online petition was organized collecting over 10,000 signatures before the RFEF's Appeals Committee accepted the appeal lodged by Real Jaen on Friday and revoked Jona's punishment. Nevertheless, the already fragile reputation of the RFEF has taken another beating, while on a positive note, Jona's t-shirt has more to promote the fight against infant cancer than he could have ever expected.