Limerick FC cancel Barca clash

SADLY, Limerick FC have confirmed that the proposed friendly with FC Barcelona on Saturday, July 31 at Thomond Park has now been canceled.
Last week Limerick FC were mere hours away from signing an agreement with the Spanish giants, but the Football of Association of Ireland refused to sanction the game. On Thursday Limerick FC released a statement criticising the FAI for refusing to do so while the club estimated that the event could be worth €10 million-plus to the local economy.


Following several days of controversial press coverage FC Barcelona, on Monday evening, contacted Limerick FC requesting a final clarification on whether the proposed friendly was likely to go ahead. Considering the FAI stance Limerick FC officials had no option but to resign themselves to the fact that, practically, the friendly could not go ahead.
On Tuesday night the club publicly admitted that the game was off - Limerick FC explained that FC Barcelona needed to finalise their pre-season plans, especially since the club planned to begin their Asian tour in the first week of August.
The statement also indicated that its wording had been agreed by Barcelona officials and that “the only reason that this match is not going ahead is the decision of the Airtricity League Director (Fran Gavin) and the FAI not to sanction the proposed match”.
Limerick FC also claim in their latest statement that FC Barcelona emailed FAI officials on Monday, May 17 confirming their desire to play at Thomond Park and stated their disagreement with the decision not to sanction the game.
Limerick are also eager “to thank FC Barcelona for the professional nature in which all negotiations were carried out and their support for Limerick FC’s attempts to get the necessary sanction from the FAI. Limerick FC would also like to thank its fans, its fellow league clubs and all the public who supported their call for sanctioning of the game.
“It is extremely disappointing,” the statement reads, “that Limerick FC and FC Barcelona will now not meet in Thomond Park as a result of the decision by the Airtricity League Director and the FAI not to sanction the game. The loss to the region both economically and in terms of improving the profile of soccer in the region is enormous.
“Limerick will continue to appeal the decision of the Airtricity League Director as a matter of principle as there is a need to fully clarify the position all Airtricity League clubs now find themselves in with regards to the receiving of a sanction for friendly games of this nature.
“Limerick FC,” the statement concludes, “still hope that at some stage in the future they will be in a position to welcome FC Barcelona to the mid-west region and allow all sports lovers the opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest stars in person”.

Fixtures clash
Originally the FAI cited a clash with Airtricity League fixtures as their reason for refusing to sanction the game, but the national association has since explained that they are precluded from doing so because of an agreement signed with a third party charged with bringing friendlies, which would attract crowds in excess of 15,000, to Ireland.
The FAI have scheduled an Airtricity League XI to play Manchester United at the Aviva Stadium on August 4. The Man United match could clash with European ties for Irish clubs with Bohemians potentially playing in the second leg of the Champions League and several other Airtricity League clubs embroiled in Europa League action.
In conversation with Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One Football Association of Ireland CEO John Delaney elaborated on the FAI’s decision not to sanction Limerick FC’s proposed friendly with Spanish giants FC Barcelona while he also labeled Limerick FC officials as “naive”.
“I think Limerick have acted very naively in the whole situation,” FAI CEO John Delaney explained.
John Delaney also said that the FAI were contractually bound to a third party in terms of arranging friendly games involving Irish clubs.
“We would have a relationship in terms of the organisation of friendlies coming into Ireland and there are certain games that we can grant and certain games that we cannot grant in terms of attendance figures,” John Delaney said.
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell, who was also party to the discussion on RTÉ Radio One, challenged John Delaney on his ability of the FAI to sanction the game.
“It’s not within out ability,” John Delaney replied.

Hardened stance
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”.
Even though Limerick FC furnished Leader Sport with a copy of the heads of agreement contract between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona for the friendly in question, the FAI 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.
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 refuted the FAI claim that they were aware of the third party commercial agreement in question.
Once more they 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.

Ramifications
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.
Limerick FC have lodged an official objection with the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit regarding the Airtricity League Director’s refusal to sanction the friendly against FC Barcelona. A letter regarding same from Limerick FC was scheduled to arrive at the FAI HQ in Abbotstown on Tuesday.

FAI Ford Cup
The draw for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup took place on Monday night - Limerick FC will face either Tolka Rovers or Tralee Dynamos at Jackman Park on the weekend of June 6.

Brian McDonnell

FAI harden friendly stance

DESPITE all 19 of Limerick FC’s Airtricity League club colleagues moving a motion on Monday night to support the Super Blues in their on-going battle with the Football Association of Ireland the FAI have hardened their stance and as a result Limerick FC officials are now resigned to the fact that FC Barcelona will not be playing at Thomond Park on Saturday, July 31.


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

FAI respond to Limerick FC statement

THE Football Association of Ireland have responded to a Limerick FC statement which criticised the national body's refusal to sanction a high-profile friendly between the Super Blues and FC Barcelona on Saturday, July 31 next.


Limerick FC, led by chairman Pat O'Sullivan, arrived at an agreement this week with the Spanish giants which would see the Airtricity League club take on FC Barcelona, featuring marquee names such as Lionel Messi, at Thomond Park.
The FAI however refused to sanction the game which could have benefited the local economy to the tune of €10 million.
The FAI released a statement on Thursday evening (May 13) stating: “As the FAI has already told Limerick FC, their request for authorisation to confirm to FC Barcelona that they would be able to play in Ireland on July 31, was refused because of third party commercial agreements which prevent the Association from doing so.
“In addition, the FAI has also told Limerick FC that it is in active and ongoing negotiations with FC Barcelona in relation to a visit to the Aviva Stadium.
“Thirdly, the association told Limerick FC that it was obliged to retain ownership of the July 31 date because of Airtricity League fixtures.
“Although the timing of Limerick FC’s proposal means this request cannot be granted, the FAI has already given permission to Limerick FC for a match it applied for involving Sunderland in Thomond Park on July 13”.

Brian McDonnell

FAI refuse to sanction friendly with FC Barcelona

LIMERICK FC were left reeling this Thursday afternoon with the news that the Football Association of Ireland has refused to sanction a high-profile friendly against Spanish giants FC Barcelona at Thomond Park.


As previously reported by Leader Sport Limerick FC have confirmed that they were engaged in on-going negotiations with FC Barcelona with a view to hosting a friendly against the 2009 European champions at Thomond Park this coming July.
The Airtricity League club, led by CEO Pat O'Sullivan, were thrilled when they reached an agreement with FC Barcelona to schedule the match for Saturday, July 31 - that contractual agreement guaranteed that the FC Barcelona team to play the Super Blues would include marquee stars such as Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi and all new marquee signings.
The proposed fixture was subject to sanctioning by the Football Association of Ireland. Unfortunately, Limerick FC have now been informed by the FAI that the Airtricity League Director has refused to sanction the game. Sadly, the failure of the FAI and the Airtricity League Director to sanction this game ensures that fans throughout the mid-west region and beyond will not have the opportunity to see the world’s greatest stars in action.
“This is a massive setback for Limerick FC, Limerick city and the mid-west region,” Pat O’Sullivan, the Limerick FC chairman, said reacting to this devastating news.
“We along with Thomond Park and local tourism bodies have worked tirelessly to bring a team of the stature of FC Barcelona to the sports-mad mid-west region. The potential benefit to the local economy of up to €10 million and to the profile of soccer in the region is enormous. This makes it imperative that the Airtricity League Director reverse his decision, sanction this match and allow fans all over the region see the likes of Lionel Messi grace Thomond Park in July.”
As previously reported by Leader Sport a UK-based sports agent visited Limerick last week with the stated intention of bringing FC Barcelona to the mid-west. The agent in question attended Limerick FC's Airtricity League First Division game against Shelbourne while he also inspected the facilities at the Gaelic Grounds. The continued existence of the GAA's Rule 42, which prohibits sports other than Gaelic Games being played at the Ennis Road venue, essentially pointed to Thomond Park as being the only Limerick venue capable of hosting such a unique event.
Leader Sport is currently awaiting a response to the story from the Football Association of Ireland.

Brian McDonnell