Colly James 18 month ban

[ATFC-1887]

Taken from the LOI Blog

BREAKING: Longford Town FC midfielder Colly James hit with a 18 month ban after being found guilty on 6 counts of breaching rules associated with match integrity.

[ATFC-1887]

Longford Town midfielder Colm James has been handed an 18 month ban from all football activities by the FAI Disciplinary Committee after being found guilty of six counts of breaking FAI rules associated with match integrity.

The FAI released the following statement this evening regarding the matter;

"The FAI Disciplinary Committee has banned a Longford Town player from all football-related activities for 18 months after he was found guilty on six counts of breaching FAI Rules associated with match integrity. The player has the right of appeal under FAI Rule 158.

Following a two month detailed investigation involving UEFA, FIFA and An Garda Síochána, the FAI’s Disciplinary Regulations Officer brought a case against the player to the FAI Disciplinary Committee.

After hearing evidence from both sides, the FAI Disciplinary Committee found the Longford Town FC player had breached FAI Rules 95, 99.1, 102.1, 102.2a, 102.2e, 102.2f.

This decision has been made with reference to sporting rules and procedures only. Any other action which may be taken is a matter for statutory authorities."

[nigel-harps1954]

http://theloiblog.com/NewsStory.aspx?n=480

Full statement from the FAI on here. Crazy story that was never going to end well. Unfortunate for Longford Town.

[Mr A]

What are the odds on him finding a new club when the ban is up?

[Charlie Darwin]

What are the odds on him finding a new club when the ban is up?
I don't know but whatever it is I'm sure Collie wants a piece of it.

[Longfordian]

It's that time he spent with Shels that's corrupted him.

[PartySaint]

It's that time he spent with Shels that's corrupted him.

Didn't they have a few questionable games when he was there?

[Town Legend]

It was well known with Longford fans that it was James. I was told he had the nerve to look for wages while this was on-going but the club told him to go and jump. The only positive is that it never affected our performances on the pitch.

[Longfordian]

I think they did yeah. I had heard we'd been paying the rotund **** to stay away for the past two months but I could be wrong.

[RonnieB]

I think they did yeah. I had heard we'd been paying the rotund **** to stay away for the past two months but I could be wrong.

**** sake.

[MariborKev]

PFAI Twitter accounts strangely silent on this matter......

[De Town]

If we have been paying the little ****, surely we can claim it back off him after he was found guilty?

[Charlie Darwin]

If we have been paying the little ****, surely we can claim it back off him after he was found guilty?
If you sued him I suppose. Might not be worth the hassle.

[Longfordian]

You could sue him for breach of contract alright but I could be wrong and he was suspended without pay. Would have thought that could be seen as prejudicing the investigation somewhat though. The club were, rightly, maintaining a pretty strict silence on the finer details.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I worry about how many others are or were on the take.

[osarusan]

That loiblog link doesn't work for me. What's the ban for?

[Charlie Darwin]

That loiblog link doesn't work for me. What's the ban for?
Compromising "match integrity," in other words he's been found guilty of some form of impropriety following the discovery of betting irregularities around Longford Town fixtures over the past year.

[Longfordian]

Compromising "match integrity," in other words he's been found guilty of some form of impropriety following the discovery of betting irregularities around Longford Town fixtures over the past year.

I think it's more attempting to influence future matches and not reporting an approach regarding this. I don't think there's any specific past matches involved in the investigation.

Specific rules outlined here

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0611/456048-longford-towns-james-suspended-for-18-months/

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, I was careful not to accuse him of anything. If he was found guilty of actually influencing matches, he'd have been given a much heavier ban.

[Longfordian]

Yeah, I was careful not to accuse him of anything. If he was found guilty of actually influencing matches, he'd have been given a much heavier ban.

Yeah you're absolutely right but just to be clear for the record as it were, no betting irregularities surrounding Town games were identified or reported to the FAI by bookies. Just semantics but it's important from an LTFC point of view that it's clear that no matches were actually affected.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah you're absolutely right but just to be clear for the record as it were, no betting irregularities surrounding Town games were identified or reported to the FAI by bookies. Just semantics but it's important from an LTFC point of view that it's clear that no matches were actually affected.
That's fair enough. I'd be interested to learn how it was brought to the FAI and the Gards' attention though.

[Longfordian]

Story goes that James tried to recruit a team mate who reported him to LTFC. LTFC then went to the FAI who gave them guidance on how to proceed from there and they launched their own investigation and involved the Gardai, UEFA etc.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well if that's the case then it is very serious. Do you know if anybody testified against him?

[Longfordian]

I'd say the team mate did, he gave evidence in the club's own investigation after the initial report I believe. I don't know much more than that, the club were understandably being very cautious with this and saying very little.

[osarusan]

Thanks all, bad news indeed. 18 months isn't much, but as mentioned, who'll pay him to play after this.

[Charlie Darwin]

Thanks all, bad news indeed. 18 months isn't much, but as mentioned, who'll pay him to play after this.
Rodd... I won't finish that.

[chippydevlin]

scum bag

[bluemovie]

It's that time he spent with Shels that's corrupted him.


Didn't they have a few questionable games when he was there?

He came on as a sub for the last 20 minutes of the infamous Sheriff game, but it was already 3-2 by then. I know some Shels fans felt their team didn't try too hard to equalise in the closing stages.

[wonder88]

Is he still a member of the PFAI and have they made a statement yet on this matter. Fair play to the team mate who acted. This guy has taken a fair bit of money, in wages out of the league of Ireland over the years and yet some people consider that LOI players are underpaid.

[Longfordian]

Is he still a member of the PFAI and have they made a statement yet on this matter. Fair play to the team mate who acted. This guy has taken a fair bit of money, in wages out of the league of Ireland over the years and yet some people consider that LOI players are underpaid.

Apparently he hasn't asked them for advice yet so they have nothing to say on the matter.

[fionnsci]

He could do with making his facebook private. Especially since a photo posted a bit back is a Paddy Power betslip.

[Bosco]

He could do with making his facebook private. Especially since a photo posted a bit back is a Paddy Power betslip.

Just had a look there, counted six pictures of bet slips in the few pics that are public.....he obviously doesn't give too much of a ****e....he's still claiming his innocence apparently..

[Dodge]

Apparently he hasn't asked them for advice yet so they have nothing to say on the matter.

So the lad who went to the club about it didn't seek Union advice either. Anyone know the Longford shop steward?

[outspoken]

Am I seeing that right? €6,500 on 1 game wow

[De Town]

Am I seeing that right? €6,500 on 1 game wow

That's a screenshot of some tipster he was following on facebook.

[outspoken]

That's a screenshot of some tipster he was following on facebook.

Jesus it would want to be haha

[Spudulika]

Is it just me or are the PFAI a bit like Pavee Point or another of those money sucking outfits who jump with outrage when one of their own is "wronged" but from whom silence is deafening when a little pet strays.

[Longfordian]

As an aside his missus is a bloody stunner judging from his Facebook pics. He'll have more time to spend with her now anyway the ****.

[KK77]

A right little so and so. No doubts his mate form the unmentionables will defnd him!

[Louth4sam]

Is it just me or are the PFAI a bit like Pavee Point or another of those money sucking outfits who jump with outrage when one of their own is "wronged" but from whom silence is deafening when a little pet strays.

Horrible organisation lead by a horrible individual. I can't see him getting a nice welcome back in the Dundalk Vs Celtic legends match.

[colonelwest]

Posted this in this weeks games thread, from twitter, Athlone fans:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BMvn5DRCcAAqppT.jpg:large

:D

[Sheridan]

Is it just me or are the PFAI a bit like Pavee Point or another of those money sucking outfits who jump with outrage when one of their own is "wronged" but from whom silence is deafening when a little pet strays.
For those who thought the distaste for the PFAI wasn't just typically Irish reactionary bile, here's a nice slice of prejudice thrown in. Point proven.

[KK77]

AIRTRICITY League director Fran Gavin insists that an illegal betting ring based abroad triggered the incident which resulted in an 18-month ban being imposed on Colm James.

The Longford Town midfielder last week received the record suspension from football in Ireland for offences relating to "bringing the game into disrepute, corruption and betting/gambling".

Monday's deadline passed without the player lodging an appeal.

Although their investigation showed no evidence of any match being actually rigged, the FAI are adamant that a "network" was being assembled to influence the outcome of at least one fixture.

"It was the most detailed and the longest investigation that we've had into any disciplinary issue in the league," explained Gavin.

"We interviewed over 50 people during several weeks and we strongly believe that there was a group involved in approaching the player from outside our jurisdiction.

"We have no evidence that any matches were fixed, but we think there was an attempt to set up a network to try and get games fixed. So, from our point of view, it was definitely an attack on the integrity of the league."

Gavin hopes the lengthy ban, which will likely end the League of Ireland career of 29-year-old James, acts as a deterrent to any others considering acting outside the rules.

Still, with wages in the league vastly reduced over recent years, he recognises that the opportunity for players to net a quick earner exists.

"We've addressed the situation in our rules," he said. "We've made it clear that if someone is approached at any stage, they're obliged to report it so that it's addressed. There are serious consequences for anybody involved in it.

"Look, the temptation is there. It is greater with the less money people have and the more financial trouble they get into.

"We're in very tight times at the moment, so when people dangle something like this in front of a player or an official, they think about things like that.

"But there's a time when you make a decision – yes or no. It's important that we make sure everybody knows that, if you make the wrong decision, then we're going to come after you with everything."

[Macy]

Hope he got clearance from the judicial system to make such comments, given we've been told a gardia investigation is also taking place.

[gufcfan]

Article title should be

"Gavin lauds FAI stance on corruption from behind elephant in room."

[Spudulika]

For those who thought the distaste for the PFAI wasn't just typically Irish reactionary bile, here's a nice slice of prejudice thrown in. Point proven.

? Lost in space there.