FAI refuse to sanction tournament in Thomond Park.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...316281081.html

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LIMERICK FANS look set to miss out on the chance to see Chelsea and Celtic play at Thomond Park after the FAI refused to sanction a pre-season tournament in the stadium. Thomond Park had lined up the Champions League finalists and Scottish Premier League champions plus two other “leading European teams” for a tournament to take place on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

However, in a repeat of the controversial decision to refuse to allow Limerick FC play a friendly with Barcelona in 2010, the FAI have refused to give the green light for the tournament.

John Cantwell, stadium manager at Thomond Park, confirmed the venue “had the opportunity to host a tournament”.

“We received an offer from a leading promoter to hold a tournament with some big teams including Chelsea and Celtic and some European teams,” he said. “We obviously put in a request to the FAI, because we can’t hold it without sanction from them, but that hasn’t been forthcoming. The reason being given is that they have an alternative, another tournament planned for the same period.”

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Sounds like this was nothing to do with Limerick FC, who wouldn't have been involved, so if a mod wants to move it to another forum (I didn't know where to put it), go ahead.

Ya it doesn't look like it would have had anything to do with us, the FAI or any football team in the area.

Can see why this one was stopped. As I said elsewhere its like the fai or a company inviting over super 14 rugby teams to play in a mini tournament without the involvement of an Irish rugby team or the irfu. It ain't happening.

I would be with the FAIlures on this one.

Isn't this a case of the FAI needing to hoard all the good stuff for Lansdowne in order to pay off debt?

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Originally Posted by bluemovie

Isn't this a case of the FAI needing to hoard all the good stuff for Lansdowne in order to pay off debt?

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Yes and no I suppose. Yes the FAI are trying to keep games in the aviva to pay off the debt.

No in this case because the above event would not benefit anyone other that thomond park ltd and will be of no benefit to any football in Ireland. It would just rival any tournament the fai run this summer.

Yeah that's kind of what I meant. The FAI are enforcing a monopoly. Thomond games don't benefit them so they won't let them go ahead.

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Originally Posted by bluemovie

Isn't this a case of the FAI needing to hoard all the good stuff for Lansdowne in order to pay off debt?

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Ultimately Yes. But they have a legitimate case in this instance, as it isn't benefitting any level of football in this case.

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Originally Posted by bluemovie

Yeah that's kind of what I meant. The FAI are enforcing a monopoly. Thomond games don't benefit them so they won't let them go ahead.

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These games don't benefit any part of Irish football, and rightly aren't allowed. can't see the argument for it being sanctoned to be honest

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Originally Posted by bluemovie

Yeah that's kind of what I meant. The FAI are enforcing a monopoly. Thomond games don't benefit them so they won't let them go ahead.

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Well Limerick had a case. The association were putting their own interests ahead of one of their members.

This instance - a (pre-season) tournament involving solely foreign teams (during our season) - should always be a non-starter (at anytime, not just during our season).

The fact that that date is likely when they'd have their super cup tourney should be neither here or there.

That said I'm sure the fai would love to be able to stage the dublin thing without an irish team.

Good stuff, well played FAI

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Originally Posted by Dodge

can't see the argument for it being sanctoned to be honest

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Won't someone think of the children/ barstooler?

Bit ironic that it comes a couple of days after the initial bid for Euro 2020 which would probably need Thomond Park. Still, I'll have to side with the FAI on this one too..<shudder>..

Horrible precedent being set.

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Originally Posted by Spudulika

Horrible precedent being set.

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Only thing unprecedented about this tournament is that it lacks any Irish football involvment. If thats the precedent the FAI want to set, then fair play to them

If the profits from having Sellthick do a token trip to bulk up their plastic paddy brigade were only going to the Thomand Park ownership company then **** 'em. Right decision.

Surprised nobody pointed out the "Limerick fans" in the article. Then again, having to put up with Pat Scully all year they might be grateful for the opportunity to watch Chelsea reserves play Celtic reserves.

Ya I mentioned it elsewhere that that the opening "Limerick Fans" was very misleading. Really it should have said Limericks Chelsea or Celtic fans. Limerick Fans have nothing to gain from it. The only people that seem to be whinging is the barstoolers.

Limerick vs Longford is on in the Limerick the same weekend if they want a live bit of footie.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Only thing unprecedented about this tournament is that it lacks any Irish football involvment. If thats the precedent the FAI want to set, then fair play to them

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So Ireland go out of the 2020 championships early, and in a quarter final Latvia play Georgia at Aviva. Has to be blocked too, right? According to that logic.

Going down this road the FAI are opening themselves and football in Ireland into some difficult times. Should the English FA not have blocked non-english national teams play international friendlies on their soil - likewise the Belgians (Ireland vs Italy). We can't have it every way.

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Originally Posted by Spudulika

So Ireland go out of the 2020 championships early, and in a quarter final Latvia play Georgia at Aviva. Has to be blocked too, right? According to that logic.

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What? That would be a tournament that had Irish involvement.

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Originally Posted by Spudulika

So Ireland go out of the 2020 championships early, and in a quarter final Latvia play Georgia at Aviva. Has to be blocked too, right? According to that logic.

Going down this road the FAI are opening themselves and football in Ireland into some difficult times. Should the English FA not have blocked non-english national teams play international friendlies on their soil - likewise the Belgians (Ireland vs Italy). We can't have it every way.

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Three things.

1) As already pointed out your first example has irish involvement.
2) Each of those other examples are individual games (hence a lesser evil), and at least benefited members of the home association whose ground was used.
3) In the case of england, at any rate, the international friendlies will not affect the england national team, or their league program, and tend to involve countries with a large immigrant communty (if only our barstoolers had that excuse).