FAI appeal to UEFA for players permission

An FAI delegation is due to meet FIFA representatives in Switzerland today to try and get permission for 10 League of Ireland players to line out for their new clubs.

The players in question have already played for two clubs since July and are barred from playing for a third under current FIFA rules.

However, Liverpool were recently granted clearance to sign Javier Mascherano under similar circumstances and the FAI is hoping to get a derogation from the regulations.

Will be interesting to see how they get on.

Our appeal was due to have been heard already and we expect a response soon. We've put a lot of effort into the appeal, with the help of eLoI Director, Fran Gavin.

If its good enough for the 'Pool, then its good enough for us......

I think that players that did not play in the EL should be allowed to play, but the others, I think have to wait till July.

I think that some pompus organisation in Switzerland has no right to deny anyone the chance to earn a living.

Good to see the FAI giving the clubs some help on this extremely important issue.

It would be least the clubs could expect given the hoopla surrounding the FAI takeover.

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Originally Posted by TheBoss

I think that players that did not play in the EL should be allowed to play, but the others, I think have to wait till July.

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Why should the fact that Farrelly played last season for Bohs effect whether he should play for another EL club this season?

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Originally Posted by Peadar

I think that some pompus organisation in Switzerland has no right to deny anyone the chance to earn a living.

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Yes, any EU citizen would easily win a case under Restraint of Trade. As ex-PFAI man Gavin will be well aware of this.

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Originally Posted by lucanhoop87

what was the reason that liverpool gave to get the mascherano deal to go through??

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Something to do with the different calendars of the Brazilian and English seasons, something which also holds true of the LOI.

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Originally Posted by TheBoss

I think that players that did not play in the EL should be allowed to play, but the others, I think have to wait till July.

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A lot of the players affected played for Dublin City last season, why should they be punished for Dublin City's failure? this affects our league because its a summer league. There is no problem with an English league player playing for two clubs one season and a new club the next season, why should it be illegal to do the same thing in Ireland ?

If there was a single example of a player trying to cheat a club, then maybe there would be reason to examine their case but stopping players from playing football is just ridiculous!

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Originally Posted by GuisaSaigon

A lot of the players affected played for Dublin City last season, why should they be punished for Dublin City's failure? this affects our league because its a summer league. There is no problem with an English league player playing for two clubs one season and a new club the next season, why should it be illegal to do the same thing in Ireland ?

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I think in a case like Dublin city then special permission should be given. But I really think this is becoming a mess first with letting Mascareno
Away with the rule. It has opened a can of worms and now everybody wants to break the rule. In this case it should be done away if its not going to be enforced.

The official line is they can't play competitive games for three different clubs between Augut one year and July the next.

Mascherano had played for Corinthians in Brazil in August, West Ham from September to January then he would've played for Liverpool again.

I know Gary Rogers played for Dublin City from March til July, Bray from July til November and he would've played for Galway in the August-July period.

Even if Dublin City players should be exempt, Alan Cawley played for UCD, AFAIK, from March til July last year the Waterford from July til November and then he would've played for Bray in March.

The time span according to FIFA rules is July 1 to June 30th of any year.

Boys & Girls:

Any news from Fran's trip to Swizerland?

The silence is deafening and very ominous for those of us who would be (how do I put this?) relieved to get Gary Rogers back in goals:(

Mascherano cleared to join Liverpool
(FIFA.com) 31 Jan 2007


Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano has been given the green light by FIFA to join Liverpool from West Ham United.

Under FIFA rules governing the status and transfer of players, a footballer cannot play competitively for more than two clubs between 1 July and 30 June the following year, and Mascherano has already appeared for both Corinthians in Brazil and West Ham in England during that period.

FIFA have ruled, however, that the 22-year-old - who only completed two full matches for West Ham in a total of just seven appearances - was an exceptional case.

In a statement, football's world governing body explained their ruling was determined partly because the South American and European seasons overlap.

FIFA said: "The FIFA Single Judge took a decision on 29 January 2007, which subsequently was notified to the parties involved late yesterday, 30 January."

The Single Judge's ruling was that 'upon registration for Liverpool FC during the present registration period, the player Javier Mascherano is eligible to play in official matches with the said club with immediate effect.'

After careful study of the case put forward by the Anfield club, the conclusion was reached that it would not be justifiable to prevent Mascherano from moving to Merseyside during the current transfer window and being eligible to play in official matches.

Particular emphasis was given to the safeguarding of sporting integrity and the crucial element of overlapping seasons between the relevant associations.

The Single Judge made it clear, however, that such permission can only be granted under very strict preconditions. In particular, he stressed that, "a series of elements related, on the one hand, to the duration and the positioning of the relevant sports seasons as well as to the respect of the registration periods and, on the other hand, to the duration and respect of the employment contracts concerned, need to be cumulatively met."

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Originally Posted by Peadar

I think that some pompus organisation in Switzerland has no right to deny anyone the chance to earn a living.

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Can't believe I'm saying this but I fully agree with Peadar :D
Can only improve the league if they play.

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Originally Posted by Peadar

I think that some pompus organisation in Switzerland has no right to deny anyone the chance to earn a living.

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True, and if brought to court they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

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Originally Posted by paudie

Why should the fact that Farrelly played last season for Bohs effect whether he should play for another EL club this season?

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Because if he played for an EL club last year the argument that the eL calender is different is irrelevent as it was an eL team he played for last year. However he played for Blackpool last year so that is irrelevent.

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Originally Posted by Peadar

If there was a single example of a player trying to cheat a club, then maybe there would be reason to examine their case but stopping players from playing football is just ridiculous!

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There has been at least one example. The rule was brought in, ironically enough, to protect the clubs from players who would sign, take a signing on fee and subsequently demand a transfer to get another signing on fee. Some Brazilian player did it to a Turkish club, I think. Mascherano effectively did it with West Ham. However, it's obvious there's a need for revision to the rules too.

That said, it makes no sense to include loan deals and dead clubs in the three clubs.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

... The rule was brought in, ironically enough, to protect the clubs from players who would sign, take a signing on fee and subsequently demand a transfer to get another signing on fee.

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Surely if a player signs a contract for a club (for one year, two years, or whatever) and then breaches the terms of that contract afetr a couple of weeks (by immediately requesting a transfer or refusing to play to the best of his ability), then he would be liable to re-pay the signing-on fee?

Seems like clubs need to overhaul their HR policies rather than have FIFA impose a draconian rule on all.