What the FAI thinks of progressive clubs:

[Lim till i die]

Believe it or not, "unsound mind" is actually a recognised legal term used to describe someone who is not fit for trial. Presumably, it would entail a mental assessment of the individual in question.

Believe it or not, my tongue may have been firmly in my cheek when posting that.

[KevB76]

looking through further, this may be more relevant;

Friendly matches
19.14 No participant club can arrange any match without the prior written consent of the league director....

19.14.1 Permission for friendly macthes is given on the strict understanding that the participant clubis able to fulfil its competitive fixture schedule

(i.e to fulfil its own fixtures, not leave the date free for other clubs fixtures)

19.14.4 Applications for friendly matches ... must be made in writing to th eleague director at least 5 days before the fixture

[Magoo..O'O]

Can they just call it a Limerick 11 v Barcelona and don't bother asking for permission? Like Ireland 11 v Brazil back in 1974!
Why do I smell a rat or two here - a petty power struggle and a (tiny) bit of testosterone - let's see whose got the biggest etc
Hard to credit it .. Real Madrid Man u and Barca all in the space of 6 months - can anyone top it ! Argentina arrive in August as World Champions !!
What a pity Anglo Irish Bank and others did'nt squander their billions on football - at worst it would have been patriotic! Just a thought.

[DannyInvincible]

Thanks.

A quick scan through reveals;

3. Commercial Contracts
3.6 Where there is a conflict between an FAI contract and a new commercial contract entered into by a club then the FAI contract shall prevail
3.7 The FAI may inform participant clubs of the relevant terms and obligations of commercial contracts entered into by the FAI which may have an effect on new commercial contracts proposed to be entereed into by a club

Sounds to me they're using 3.6 as a reason, but this begs the question why dont they comply with 3.7 and tell the club what the exact conflict is.

3.7 doesn't oblige the FAI to do anything though. It simply acknowledges that they have a right to inform the club if they so wish, which is rather convenient. They "may" inform the club, or they may not; it's left up to their own whim and they don't have to do anything if they don't want to. Essentially, it means nothing then. I do, however, for the sake of integrity and decency, think they ought to be transparent about this, divulge the exact details of these apparent agreements and explain why they've entered into them. At least then we'll be able to properly judge the merits of their refusal to sanction the game.

Believe it or not, my tongue may have been firmly in my cheek when posting that.

Touché. No harm done.

[Kildareman]

Without reading through 7 pages.... Friday July 17 2009 Waterford United played Ipswich Town and Kildare County played Leyton Orient. Also on that night there were 2 Premier League games and 2 First Division games on. These were played at Drogheda Galway Shelbourne and Wexford.
This decision was made so as not to coincide with the rugby in the Aviva and to deny Limerick the first bite at Barcelona.
Rather childish really from the same people that wanted to be the 33rd team in Africa (cringe).

[blueboy2]

Apparently they are bringing over more higher profile players than Utd and the F.A.I. are not too happy so much so as to try get Barca to play in the Aviva instead.
SHAME.

[Dodge]

Without reading through 7 pages.... Friday July 17 2009 Waterford United played Ipswich Town and Kildare County played Leyton Orient. Also on that night there were 2 Premier League games and 2 First Division games on. These were played at Drogheda Galway Shelbourne and Wexford.
This decision was made so as not to coincide with the rugby in the Aviva and to deny Limerick the first bite at Barcelona.
Rather childish really from the same people that wanted to be the 33rd team in Africa (cringe).

Just quoting to emphasise it. Great stuff Kildaremen, hopefull people in Limericjk will mention it, next time Delaeny calls

[blueboy2]

The talk in Limerick is that Delaney is due to open Summerville Rvs new dressing rooms in Limerick TOMORROW.

[SkStu]

The talk in Limerick is that Delaney is due to open Summerville Rvs new dressing rooms in Limerick TOMORROW.

it'd be like JFK going ahead with his trip to Dallas...

anyone got a magic bullet, get Gavin aswell?

[Kildareman]

I bet Noel Mooneys hiding in the broom cupboard hoping not to get drawn into this.

[desaintsno.12]

hope he gets serious stick down there

[LK37oldskool]

If you dont think the the FAI have a bias against us let me inform you that they screwed us last year as well.We had 2 friendlies lined up against Middlesborough and Ipswich which they denied us permission to play due to the Internationals being played at Thomand Park around that time(South Africa&Australia). That shower will never give us a break.Hope tha Aviva stadium breaks them. BTW if its true that Deleaney is coming down tomorrow he better hire some serious security,the general mood at last nights game dos'nt bode well for him getting a friendly reception.

[Rasputin]

The talk in Limerick is that Delaney is due to open Summerville Rvs new dressing rooms in Limerick TOMORROW.

What does the Mc Carthy/Dundons schedule look like today?

[gael353]

looks like someone was telling some porkies http://www.rte.ie/aertel/222-02.html

also mr delaney has arrived at summervilles new facility with...............his wife!

[Dalymountrower]

looks like someone was telling some porkies http://www.rte.ie/aertel/222-02.html

also mr delaney has arrived at summervilles new facility with...............his wife!

Did they arrive in a glass carriage with Fran Gavin and Noel Mooney serving as footmen?

[Jofspring]

This comes from one of the lads on the Limerick FC fans forum. He has asked someone to make this point on foot so i will just quote him.

The ONLY correspondence Limerick FC have recieved regarding the refusal to sanction this game was the 3 line fax stating that the game clashes with Airtricity league fixtures. Any subsequent reason given by the FAI is completely irrelevent as far as i'm concerned. They gave us their official reason, that excuse simply wasn't good enough. When the public and the media saw this they were of the same opinion, it was only then the FAI came up with these new reasons. As i've said Limerick FC have recieved no OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE from the FAI citing these new reasons. As far as Limerick FC are concerned the only official reason this game wasn't sanctioned is due to it cashing with Airtricity fixtures. Their other excuses, released to the media and not the club smack of desperation and we'll take those excuses apart aswell just for good measure.

When you take into consideration what Kildareman has posted a few posts back it just shows what bull the FAI are trying to come up with.

[DannyInvincible]

Here's a Daniel McDonnell piece from the Independent today on John Delaney's lobbying to FIFA to have Bohs' potential Champions League third round qualifier moved to another date as it would clash with his Man Yoo-Aviva jizz-fest: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...n-2181578.html

It's farcical, insulting and makes us the laughing stock of Europe, but especially rich and galling is the bit about Limerick.

Delaney added that preliminary discussions have taken place if an embarrassing clash with a crucial Bohemians Champions League game the same night arises.

If Bohs win their second qualifyinground tie, the stage where they enter as a seeded team, then the decisive encounter in the third round, which would have huge ramifications for the domestic game, would be scheduled to played on either August 3 or August 4.

The timing is particularly unfortunate given that one of the reasons offered to Limerick FC for blocking their lucrative friendly with Barcelona is a clash with Airtricity League fixtures.

Delaney said that the FAI would lobby to have the Bohemians showdown moved to the Tuesday – 24 hours before the visit of Manchester United – if that situation developed.

“We can certainly talk to UEFA if Bohemians make their way through, which I really hope they will do,” said Delaney. “We’re in preliminary discussions with UEFA in terms of the ability to move games if we need to do so.”

That would indicate that it is entirely within the realm of the FAI's power to free up Limerick from their "obligation to retain ownership" of the date of the now-cancelled friendly with Barcelona. Or, if they are restrained from doing this by UEFA rules, at least they could demonstrate a bit of consistency and lobby the body on this as well. Whilst I'd previously highlighted that it was most likely in Limerick's participation agreement, I no longer feel that the reason given by the FAI for refusing to sanction the game on this basis stands up as valid in my book due to their inaction and inconsistency on the matter. It's patently obvious they could do something for Limerick here if needs be.

That leaves the only remaining excuse as these mystery "third party commercial agreements". I don't hold much hope for seeing these agreements being waived through the consent of all those party to them, but the full details of these need to be made known to Limerick as it's not at all acceptable that some contract from which Limerick will never benefit is preventing them from hosting a friendly game against Barcelona. I wonder were clubs ever made aware of the details of these agreements at the time of the FAI signing up to them, seeing as they seem to directly impinge upon them...

If you dont think the the FAI have a bias against us let me inform you that they screwed us last year as well.We had 2 friendlies lined up against Middlesborough and Ipswich which they denied us permission to play due to the Internationals being played at Thomand Park around that time(South Africa&Australia).

Honestly, get the notions of an anti-Limerick bias out of your head. It's embarrassing.

looks like someone was telling some porkies http://www.rte.ie/aertel/222-02.html

In fairness, I only think the FAI claimed they'd been in consultation or something with Barca anyway. They certainly never suggested there was anything solid in place. By the way, that page has changed now to the hoo-ha over the Vantage Tickets.

[osarusan]

Interesting piece on the Indo website this morning.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...y-2182023.html

FAI pulls defeat from jaws of victory
........
The same greed prevents Limerick from staging a game that would be a massive boost for soccer in the south west. Only the FAI, so it seems, may profit from big-name friendly matches and woe betide anyone who gets in the way of their money-spinning.
.........
Limerick should be allowed to bring Barcelona to Thomond Park, and the FAI should be applauding the forward-thinking of a club that operates in rugby's heartland.

By blocking it, Delaney (pictured) creates the impression that the FAI wants to gazump its members, not support them.

And the Irish Examiner

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...sh-119867.html

Limerick and Barcelona ratchet up the pressure on FAI in bid to revive clash


Back on Shannonside, Kieran MacSweeney, President of Limerick Chamber said: "If one of the top clubs in the world is willing to come to Thomond Park to play, why is our national football association unwilling to support this? "

[LK37oldskool]

It seems the FAI have no problem with Madrid coming over again this summer,then again they are playing in Dublin.

[Treaty Gooner]

looks like someone was telling some porkies http://www.rte.ie/aertel/222-02.html

also mr delaney has arrived at summervilles new facility with...............his wife!

Was he there? I was at portland yesterday and never saw him??