What the FAI thinks of progressive clubs:

[Jicked]

it seems the petty small-minded take on things isn't confined to the FAI. Richie Sadlier in today's papers that one of the things that drove him from LoI football was Bohs secretly lobbying him and St Pats to help try to get Shamrock Rovers game with Madrid called off last summer. The Big Club, eh.

[Réiteoir]

If you seriously believe that is the sole reason for him spazzing out and quitting football then you're sadly as deluded as John Delaney and Fran Gavin put together.

The cynical among us are thinking why bring up an incident that happened almost a year ago around the time Bohs have two huge game's against Pat's in a week. What's he hoping to achieve here? Sympathy?

And as someone else said - We note Sadlier mention a possible Bohs Champions League qualifier clashing with the Airtricity - Man United friendly. I think we are well within our right to be 'small minded' again, because guess what it will impact on our crowds for the Champions League game. The only way this league will generate publicity is a break through in Europe - not some sideshow exhibition games. As a CEO of a club I'm very suprised he couldn't cotton on to that.

[DannyInvincible]

it seems the petty small-minded take on things isn't confined to the FAI. Richie Sadlier in today's papers that one of the things that drove him from LoI football was Bohs secretly lobbying him and St Pats to help try to get Shamrock Rovers game with Madrid called off last summer. The Big Club, eh.

Sadlier's article here: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...l-2182022.html

I don't think he's completely correct in everything he says, though.

Secondly, [the FAI are] objecting to the involvement of a third party, believed to be a UK-based agency. No such objections existed when Platinum One arranged last summer's friendly between Real and Shamrock Rovers, so that's utter nonsense.

I'm not sure that is the case actually. It isn't that the FAI are objecting to the involvement of a third party. Rather, they claim to be restrained by their own murky third-party commercial agreements; that contracts into which they themselves have entered prevent them from sanctioning the Limerick-Barcelona game.

[SkStu]

it seems the petty small-minded take on things isn't confined to the FAI. Richie Sadlier in today's papers that one of the things that drove him from LoI football was Bohs secretly lobbying him and St Pats to help try to get Shamrock Rovers game with Madrid called off last summer. The Big Club, eh.

i think the reasons for the objection are fairly reasonable though obviously tainted with a little jealousy. Big deal.

But heres what i think - why dont SRFC write a letter of complaint to the FAI like you did last summer, try and get them to strip us of our title or something? Small minded, eh?

[MariborKev]

All the clubs should be up in arms of this one.

However as usual with LOI clubs it will descend in petty in fighting and gentle grumbling.

[Ezeikial]

If you seriously believe that is the sole reason for him spazzing out and quitting football then you're sadly as deluded as John Delaney and Fran Gavin put together.

The cynical among us are thinking why bring up an incident that happened almost a year ago around the time Bohs have two huge game's against Pat's in a week. What's he hoping to achieve here? Sympathy?

I share your scepticism about whether this phone call from Bohs "brought about my decision to quit League of Ireland", but not your cynicism that his raising of it has anything to do with Bohs playing Pats twice in a week. I know its a outrageous thought, but maybe it is related to Limerick/Barcelona & FAI/Man U developments?

And as someone else said - We note Sadlier mention a possible Bohs Champions League qualifier clashing with the Airtricity - Man United friendly. I think we are well within our right to be 'small minded' again, because guess what it will impact on our crowds for the Champions League game.

Nice one! So you are inferring that Bohs were right to object to the Shamrock Rovers V Real Madrid game?

The only way this league will generate publicity is a break through in Europe - not some sideshow exhibition games. As a CEO of a club I'm very suprised he couldn't cotton on to that.

The best way, but certainly not the only way. The Rovers V Real Madrid game was certainly good profile for Rovers and by extension for LoI.

[Lim till i die]

The best way, but certainly not the only way. The Rovers V Real Madrid game was certainly good profile for Rovers and by extension for LoI.

I'd debate that to be honest.

Rovers playing Real didn't do a blind bit of good for Limerick and I'm sure we're not alone in that??

Anyway, everyone back to hissing about the FAI. Come On. BOOOOOOOO. HIISSSSSSSSSS!!!

[SkStu]

All the clubs should be up in arms of this one.

However as usual with LOI clubs it will descend in petty in fighting and gentle grumbling.

i dont think so MK - everyone is on Limericks side here bar Hairy Bowsie. I know all Bohs fans think its unacceptable.

Ezeikial, i honestly dont think there was anything wrong with Bohs objecting and looking to protect their own interests. I think most clubs would honestly be a bit miffed if they had to put their CL fixture into direct competition with such a glamour friendly. I see the other side of it too but i dont have a problem with Bohs (or if it was any other team) looking after their own interests.

[MariborKev]

Aye, on message boards they may be. I'm just waiting for some journo to quote the "A facebook group set up to protest about it has gained over 2000 members". FFS, a Facebook group about a sausage roll can get 2000 members.

At club level, I wonder......

[osarusan]

At club level, I wonder......

You have to wonder what the reason for that is though.

Perhaps the other teams just don't care, but more likely they're afraid of putting themselves on some FAI hitlist.

The chairmen of Sligo and Athlone could come out and say that they have no objections to the friendly going ahead, or even that they welcome it and applaud Limerick's initiative, but all that may do is get them a black mark beside thair name up at FAI hq. What club needs the hassle of getting involved?

And anyway, for the FAI to reverse this, they need to be put under pressure from outside the circle of LOI. That's why it's good to see members of the Limerick Chamber of Commerce, and next week maybe even a TD or two to ask a few questions, because these are people that the FAI won't be in a position to just say "f**k off" to.

[thischarmingman]

The chairmen of Sligo and Athlone could come out and say that they have no objections to the friendly going ahead, or even that they welcome it and applaud Limerick's initiative, but all that may do is get them a black mark beside thair name up at FAI hq. What club needs the hassle of getting involved?

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

[osarusan]

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Hopefully things won't get quite that bad.

[thischarmingman]

Hopefully things won't get quite that bad.

One hopes.

[Lim till i die]

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Very noble sentiment and all that but the reality is licencing among other things provides the FAI with a carte blanche charter for getting rid of clubs they don't like.

So twould take a brave (foolish) chairman to stick their head above the parapet.

Would it surprise anyone if this was the latest Limericks last season in senior ball for example??

[TonyD]

And anyway, for the FAI to reverse this, they need to be put under pressure from outside the circle of LOI. That's why it's good to see members of the Limerick Chamber of Commerce, and next week maybe even a TD or two to ask a few questions, because these are people that the FAI won't be in a position to just say "f**k off" to.

Excellent idea. Joe Duffy's yer only man tbh. Few phone calls to him should see it sorted.

Disgraceful carry on by the FAI, and their attempts at explaining their stance are pathetic, to say the least.

[pineapple stu]

Encouraging to see a lot of negative media publicity about the decision. Delaney and his cronies are sure to hate that.

Depressing to think that the reason there's so much media publicity is probably because the journos want to drool over Barca coming to Ireland the same way they want to do to Man Utd.

[Jofspring]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0516/delaneyj.html

What i take from what Delaney is saying is "Don't mind Limerick FC, they are a small naive LOI club, we are the big FAI and whatever Limerick say should be ignored"

The Facts are:

1. Limerick received a fax from the FAI stating the game could not go ahead because of other Airtricity fixtures that night.

2. Limerick let the press know they where denied this fixture and above was the reason.

3. The FAI release a statement with three reasons why the game can't go ahead claiming they already told Limerick FC these reasons, which they actually had not.

4. Delaney claims Limerick have been naive and have brought the game into disreput a little bit (what the hell does a little bit even mean, you either do or you don't).

Delaneys comments are a joke if you ask me. He has totally disrespected a LOI club and has tried to make the club look like fools and sweep it under the carpet. If anything it is the FAI that has been naive and brought the game into disreput by not being transparent as to why the game can't go ahead and giving reasons after the original one and belittling a club. To also claim he doesn't believe Barcelona have agreed to the game is laughable and another insult to Limerick FC as Barcelona have sent correspondence to Limerick stating they are the only team they have agreed to play in Ireland.

[MariborKev]

The talk amongst the journos in Turners Cross on Friday was that there was to be a joint statement from Limerick and Barcelona on this in the coming days. Any word on that?

[Treaty Gooner]

From the article:

'We would have a relationship (with an agency) in terms of the organisation of friendlies coming into Ireland.
'There are certain games we can grant and there are certain games we can't in terms of attendance figures...Noel Mooney explained that we couldn't grant the game.'
'We're contractually obliged to other people. I would love the game to be played in Limerick.'

Does this mean that Limerick have been asking the wrong people for permission and can negotiate directly with the 'third party' if there is one instead of going through the FAI?

[Ezeikial]

Leaving aside the barbs directed towards Limerick by John Delaney, there are just so many questions arising out of this interview:

1) When did the FAI enter in this agreement with this unnamed agency?

2) Who is the agency?

3) Did the FAI consult with clubs before entering into this agreement?

4) Did the FAI inform the clubs after entering into this agreement?

5) Does any other national association have this type of agreement?

6) How does this agreement benefit the LoI clubs who it appears to prevent holding certain friendlies?

7) What type of games does it prevent clubs hosting?