The controversy erupted on Thursday last when Limerick FC released a statement criticising the FAI for refusing to sanction a friendly against the Spanish giants.
Originally the FAI cited a clash with Airtricity League fixtures as their reason for doing so, but the national association has since explained that they are precluded from sanctioning the game because of an agreement signed with a third party charged with bringing friendlies which would attract crowds in excess of 15,000 to Ireland.
On Monday night, just hours before the FAI Ford Cup third round draw, a meeting of the Airtricity League clubs saw all members vote to support the Limerick FC stance while it is understood that the league members will now seek the exact details of the FAI agreement which precludes all clubs from arranging high-profile friendlies.
On Monday evening the FAI released a statement as its stance hardened on the Limerick FC issue.
In that detailed statement the national association emphasised its sole objective to foster the game in Ireland and that any profit the FAI makes is “delivered straight back into the development of the game”. The FAI have suggested that the agreement they have signed with regard to friendlies is “to benefit the game as a whole”.
Even though Limerick FC have furnished Chronicle Sport with a copy of the heads of agreement contract between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona for the friendly in question, the FAI have once again questioned the bona fides of that contract. In the statement the FAI also outlined that the national association is precluded legally from granting friendly games in stadiums with a capacity in excess of 15,000 and that the FAI is obliged to retain ownership of Saturday, July 31 because of Airtricity League fixtures.
The FAI have also pointed to the fact that all Airtricity League clubs, including Limerick FC, have signed a participation agreement which entitles the FAI to enter into any agreement which its sees as beneficial to the game and that no club can arrange a friendly without the national association’s prior consent.
Late on Monday night Limerick FC publicly replied to that FAI statement in an effort to clarify their stance on the issue. The Super Blues have refuted the FAI claim that they were aware of the third party commercial agreement in question and that it referred to stadiums with a capacity in excess of 15,000. Once more they have reiterated the fact that the reason they were given for the FAI refusal to sanction the proposed friendly was because of a clash with Airtricity League fixtures.
The club were also annoyed by the FAI accusation that they had not finalised the deal to bring FC Barcelona to Limerick.
In fact Limerick had reached an agreement with the Spanish giants, but could not sign the contract as the FAI were required to sanction the deal beforehand.
Sadly, Limerick FC have now learned that FC Barcelona are now assessing other potential pre-season friendlies before the Spanish champions embark on their Asian tour in August.
Therefore there is little if no chance that the friendly will go ahead at Thomond Park on Saturday, July 31 and the mid-west region has missed out on an estimated €10 million in revenue associated with the potentially ground-breaking event.
It is also thought that the issue could have wide-ranging ramifications on the Airtricity League since the FAI’s third-party agreement essentially precludes all clubs from arranging similarly attractive friendlies against top class opposition.
Such an arrangement could prove disastrous for Limerick FC. The club’s five-year plan features a determination to arrange such friendlies in conjunction with Thomond Park as a major part of its fund-raising initiatives. Now, it appears that Limerick FC will not be in a position to raise much-needed funds in that way.
On Monday, speaking exclusively to the Limerick Leader, club chairman Pat O’Sullivan explained that he was not going to take the FAI decision “lying down”, but he, like all Super Blues supporters, must be very concerned by the position the club now finds itself in.
Limerick face Waterford United on Tuesday night at 7.45pm at Jackman Park in the semi-final of the Munster Senior Cup while the third-placed Super Blues are back in Airtricity League First Division action this Friday night when they travel to take on league leaders Derry City at the Brandywell.
Although over-shadowed by the FC Barcelona controversy the draw for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup took place on Monday night - Limerick FC will face the winner of the second round clash between Tolka Rovers and Tralee Dynamos at Jackman Park on the weekend of June 6.
In other news Chronicle sport has learned that Pike Rovers, who were thrown out of the FAI Junior Cup following an arbitration hearing last week, have been reinstated to the Munster Junior Cup. The Hoops were scheduled to take on Carrick United in the semi-finals last April, but the Munster Football Association decided to postpone that semi-final until the result of the protracted dispute over the eligibility of certain Pike Rovers players following an FAI Junior Cup quarter-final against St. Michael’s (Tipperary) was known.
Pike Rovers expected the Munster Football Association to follow the example of the arbitrator in last week’s decision to remove the Limerick club from the FAI Junior Cup, but, extraordinarily, the Hoops have been reinstated in the Munster Junior Cup and will host Carrick United at Jackman Park on Saturday, May 29 at 7.30pm.
Brian McDonnell
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