Sligo fielding an ineligible player?

[sbgawa]

Pat Hooooban will always feel there is an asterix beside this league title if dundalk go on to win it from here.

[brendy_éire]

Omission of the players name from the list is not a good enough excuse on behalf of the FAI. A head would need to roll !!

It is pathetic, and just shouldn't happen.

The club should have known, and questioned the initial omission.
The FAI should have got it right first time, and when corrected, followed it up by checking with someone at Sligo that they understood.
The player should have known himself.
Finally, the referee should have checked the teamsheets against the suspension list, and informed the team.

All of the issues we have the running of the league, this is an easy one to sort and ensure it never happens again.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Part of the problem is that suspensions don’t come in immediately. McDonnell was booked against Pats on the Sunday for his 8th booking I believe but was still able to play against Harps the following Friday. So then there’s confusion as to when his suspension starts and he doesn’t appear on the initial list etc.

[2 Year Contract]

Finally, the referee should have checked the teamsheets against the suspension list, and informed the team.


In fairness that’s not currently their responsibility but I agree with you that it absolutely should be. It’s a minimal task for a referee to cross check a team sheet with a suspension list that’s usually only got around 10 names league wide on it each week. That would then further minimise any human error from the clubs who mostly have minimal amounts of people looking after 101 different elements for the club and for not a large amount of money, if any at all in some cases

[pineapple stu]

It could be the FAI delegate either.

[Mr A]

Mad idea but go with me on this... have the media notification and the one to clubs be the same information.

I agree with this guy.

[nigel-harps1954]

Part of the problem is that suspensions don’t come in immediately. McDonnell was booked against Pats on the Sunday for his 8th booking I believe but was still able to play against Harps the following Friday. So then there’s confusion as to when his suspension starts and he doesn’t appear on the initial list etc.

This is the biggest problem. Backwards FAI ruling that needs to change next year. If every other league can have an automatic suspension ruling, there would be no confusion.

League stats aren't kept updated publicly, nobody knows who's suspended until a list comes out from the DCU, and the whole thing needs a revamp. Totally amateur stuff from the FAI.

[Nesta99]

Part of the problem is that suspensions don’t come in immediately. McDonnell was booked against Pats on the Sunday for his 8th booking I believe but was still able to play against Harps the following Friday. So then there’s confusion as to when his suspension starts and he doesn’t appear on the initial list etc.

A piece by James Rogers in the local Argus paper makes it sound very cut and dry and not at all complicated really and clubs know the system well. Supposedly McDonnell was not on the list of suspensions issued to the media and public. Additionally on every list it is stated 'Please note that this press release is for information purposes for members of the media and general public. Clubs are notified by the FAI DCU directly of suspensions of members of their club". He goes on to say that the participations agreement states that all correspondence from the DCU is sent to the club secretary and once an email address is chosen by the club, proof that notification was sent is sufficient evidence that a decision and details of the suspension was properly notified.

A by the by is that McDonnell trained with Dundalk last season. Hard to see where the ambiguity is if the system outlined was followed. It also shows that a good club secretary is worth their weight in gold and we are very lucky at Dundalk, I dont think it a coincidence that the when the secretary resigned in protest at the way the club was being run by Mad Bill, a lot of problems arose like the Chris Shields suspension, he was first man asked back when Peak6 left.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Releasing stuff to the the media and general public for informational purposes that has incorrect information on it says it all really about the FAI. Pretty much every other league does immediate suspensions so it’s not ridiculous to suggest that they would do the same.

[Nesta99]

I dont disagree. But I do think that a club should be familiar with the system in place even if needing reform, and know not to trust the provisional/press release info. The ways it is done may not make the most sense but only a club can be blamed for messing up.

[FTA-1895]

Bohs were docked three points in 2006 for playing a suspended player against Shels. Ollie went looking for the 3-0 to be awarded to Shels but it never happened.

In 2008 when Shels and Dundalk were going for Division 1, I'm sure Waterford were handed a 3-0 win for a game against Athlone which originally ended 0-0. The award was made about two weeks before the end of the season and put Waterford back into the promotion race.