BOHEMIANS are fuming after it was confirmed that Gareth McGlynn will miss the Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers.
McGlynn was initially handed a two-month ban — to run from April 30 up to and including June 29 — for placing five bets on League of Ireland games, none of which involved his then club Derry City.
This was reduced to one month on appeal, with the FAI announcing on Thursday that the suspension would begin with immediate effect.
That meant the reduced ban started on April 29, prompting Bohs to believe it would end on May 28, allowing him to play against Rovers the following day. But an FAI spokesman confirmed yesterday the ban would run from April 29 to midnight May 29.
A Bohs source raged: "If you get a two-month ban running from April 30 until June 29 and you are told it's been reduced to one month starting on April 29 then it is reasonable to assume this means it finishes on May 28.
"If the initial ban had been upheld he would have missed between 10 and 12 games. Now, he'll miss at least six and it could be more if two back fixtures against Bray are rearranged for that period."
Bohs and the players' union have decided against seeking a further reduction of the ban by referring it to arbitration, which would cost '5,000. The option of seeking a High Court injunction to allow him play in last night's game against UCD was considered but discounted.
Both Bohs and the PFAI are unhappy the ban began with immediate effect, believing it curtailed their ability to refer the matter to arbitration.
Under rule 116, parties have 10 working days to seek arbitration.
That gave them until May 13, but in the meantime, Bohs would have played four games.
Had the arbiter decided a ban of fewer than four matches was appropriate, a lengthy legal battle for compensation could have ensued.
The source added: "We don't have faith in the process so don't see the point in pursuing it any further."
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