A clarification on European qualification issue
Just so people know...
From RTE.ie:
Quote:
Cork City are seemingly in the driving seat as they sit in fourth position, one point clear of fifth placed Sligo Rovers with two games to play.
Cork have beaten Sligo 1-0 twice this yearOne of those games is against Sligo tonight (7 November) at Turner's Cross, and I'll be there in red and white hoping that victory will put Paul Cook's men two points clear and safe in the knowledge that a win at home to Bray a week later will secure their place in Europe for the first time since their Intertoto adventures against Nantes, Heerenveen et al back in 1996.
However, regardless of how the season concludes, there is a growing belief that Cork's place in European competition is out of their hands after going into examinership earlier this season, but there is little clarity as to exactly what will happen should they secure the final place.
Cork's case seemed to improve when an FAI source was recently quoted as reportedly saying they would back them with any appeal to UEFA should they be banned, with clubs like Leeds United and Coleraine already banned from European competition for three years after going into administration.
And Eoghan Rice, the league's Communications Executive, threw further light on the subject when he spoke exclusively to RTÉ.ie this week. He confirmed: 'Entering into examinership does not automatically preclude clubs from competing in European competition. UEFA's three-year ban applies only to clubs who are trading as new legal entities.'
That seems to suggest that as long as City do enough to secure a Premier Division licence from the FAI next January, they will be fully entitled to submit their application to compete in the UEFA Cup before the 31 March closing date.
He added: 'Clubs apply to the FAI for licences to compete in European competition. These licences are issued by the FAI in accordance with UEFA-approved regulations.'
This suggests that if Cork have their house in order before the closing date for applications for a Premier Division licence on 31 January, then their participation in the UEFA Cup, should they qualify, will be a formality.
Good news for Cork after what has been a turbulent season, but bad news perhaps for Sligo, who now must concentrate on winning both remaining games if they are to realise their European dream.
Not that Cork are taking anything for granted, as Éanna Buckley, Director of Media & Operations, revealed: 'Our main focus at this moment is to get the points required to finish in fourth place, which would put us in a position to qualify for Europe.
'To finish fourth after such a turbulent season would be a great achievement, and while there is a question mark over whether we will be allowed to compete in European competition following the examinership, that is an issue we will investigate should we qualify.'
