Games weekend 5th to 7th August

**TonyD** · 06/08/2022, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

I'm assuming pats will lose the points against Shels so it's not a bad result for derry and dundalk on that front.

Why would we ? Unless the FAI demand that we play and we refuse.Surely even the FAI will agree to postpone this. Having said that, it’s the FAI, so............

**LOI101** · 06/08/2022, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

Unless the FAI finds that Pats failed to prove the cancellation was legitimate there is no chance of Shels being awarded a 3-0 walkover and the points

The Pats statement reads like they couldn’t get a return charter flight rather than a cancellation. Talks about communicating with FAI about their difficulties all week. I don’t see the issue with playing the game at 5pm if they are arriving in the early hours of the morning. It’s not like they’ve been kipping on the airport floor since the final whistle on Thursday night. I’m not one for conspiracy theories normally but if the Sofia tie was over at half time like the Sligo tie I think the game would have gone ahead as planned on Sunday.

I don’t think there should be a walkover but I think we need to hear more about what actually happened. When the league informed Pats that the game was moved to Sunday, why didn’t issues with their travel arrangements emerge then? Instead LOI social media is full of Pats fans saying the flight was pulled last minute during the match. Pats statement contradicts this.

**TonyD** · 06/08/2022, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by LOI101

The Pats statement reads like they couldn’t get a return charter flight rather than a cancellation. Talks about communicating with FAI about their difficulties all week. I don’t see the issue with playing the game at 5pm if they are arriving in the early hours of the morning.

Really ? You don’t see an issue with arriving on Sunday morning and playing at 5pm ? Seriously ?

This is completely outside Pats control. Everyone knows the difficulties with air travel at the moment. If Pats are punished for this it will be a disgrace. So much for supporting our teams in Europe.

**LOI101** · 06/08/2022, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Really ? You don’t see an issue with arriving on Sunday morning and playing at 5pm ? Seriously ?

This is completely outside Pats control. Everyone knows the difficulties with air travel at the moment. If Pats are punished for this it will be a disgrace. So much for supporting our teams in Europe.

Airports are full of people traveling for work so yes I don’t see the issue with traveling and playing the same day

**2 Year Contract** · 06/08/2022, 11:07 AM

Shelbourne should be delighted they’re involved in a conversation that relates to European football for the first time in 2 decades

**nigel-harps1954** · 06/08/2022, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by LOI101

Airports are full of people traveling for work so yes I don’t see the issue with traveling and playing the same day

To be fair, I don't believe all of those people traveling for work are being forced to use charters.

**LOI101** · 06/08/2022, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

To be fair, I don't believe all of those people traveling for work are being forced to use charters.

I don't see what that has to do with my point. If you're in the airport in the early hours of the morning, you'll see plenty of people travelling for work, often going straight to work when they get off the flight at their destination. So why can't a footballer get off a flight, whether its a charter or commercial flight, in the early hours and play a game at 5pm on the same day?

**total hoofball** · 06/08/2022, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by LOI101

The Pats statement reads like they couldn’t get a return charter flight rather than a cancellation. Talks about communicating with FAI about their difficulties all week. I don’t see the issue with playing the game at 5pm if they are arriving in the early hours of the morning. It’s not like they’ve been kipping on the airport floor since the final whistle on Thursday night. I’m not one for conspiracy theories normally but if the Sofia tie was over at half time like the Sligo tie I think the game would have gone ahead as planned on Sunday.

I don’t think there should be a walkover but I think we need to hear more about what actually happened. When the league informed Pats that the game was moved to Sunday, why didn’t issues with their travel arrangements emerge then? Instead LOI social media is full of Pats fans saying the flight was pulled last minute during the match. Pats statement contradicts this.

Pats' statement is certainly vague on any specifics of why they couldn't travel home which only adds more question marks. Nothing official from Shels yet regarding the cancellation it will be interesting if, last line of the FAI's statement leaves every scenario open

Looking at the UEFA Conference League regulations I.1 Travel Requirements the wording states that a charter flight is required travelling to Europa Conference League matches in the 3rd qualifying round, my interpretation would be that this does not apply to returning home after a Europa Conference League match? I'm not a legal expert or Ollie Byrne and I'm sure all sides are looking at the rule books forensically!

For the 3rd qualifying round and play-off matches, all teams are required to travel by charter flight and/or by private buses. This is applicable to all members of the team delegation travelling to a qualifying round or play-off match, regardless if they are travelling all together or by separate means.

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulat...rements-Online

**Jd2793** · 06/08/2022, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by LOI101

I don't see what that has to do with my point. If you're in the airport in the early hours of the morning, you'll see plenty of people travelling for work, often going straight to work when they get off the flight at their destination. So why can't a footballer get off a flight, whether its a charter or commercial flight, in the early hours and play a game at 5pm on the same day?

is this a serious question

**sbgawa** · 06/08/2022, 12:44 PM

when was the last time a team couldnt fulfill a fixture because of screwed up travel arrangements.???
Either Pats didnt bother booking a flight home or they booked with unprofessional people. You cant delegate responsibility. If their arrangements screwed up and it effects Shels than Shels should get the points

**LOI101** · 06/08/2022, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jd2793

is this a serious question

Yes.

Let's imagine Pats encountered similar difficulties on their way to Sofia and only arrived on the morning of the game. The game would still have to be played?

**DCSIL** · 06/08/2022, 12:58 PM

Pats didn’t book the plane that’s been impounded in Longford did they?

On last night, right sickener the Dundalk equalizer, Maher showing what a good keeper he is up till then. Missed the stuff in the away end as was in the seats and got through out the home end (could well have had a pint in the Lilywhite lounge would have been nice!)

**Kiki Balboa** · 06/08/2022, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by DCSIL

Pats didn’t book the plane that’s been impounded in Longford did they?

On last night, right sickener the Dundalk equalizer, Maher showing what a good keeper he is up till then. Missed the stuff in the away end as was in the seats and got through out the home end (could well have had a pint in the Lilywhite lounge would have been nice!)

Story I read from comments online.... Derry fan ran onto the pitch after the final whistle, and was escorted off the pitch heavy-handley by the AGS. Other Derry fans reacted, and some pushing between the Guards and Derry fans.

Do Derry fans have a particular animosity towards Dundalk? Because, I don't think Dundalk would see it as a rivalry game (other than the situation in the table).

**TonyD** · 06/08/2022, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by LOI101

I don't see what that has to do with my point. If you're in the airport in the early hours of the morning, you'll see plenty of people travelling for work, often going straight to work when they get off the flight at their destination. So why can't a footballer get off a flight, whether its a charter or commercial flight, in the early hours and play a game at 5pm on the same day?

Because a game of football is not the same as a day at the office.

**TonyD** · 06/08/2022, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

when was the last time a team couldnt fulfill a fixture because of screwed up travel arrangements.???
Either Pats didnt bother booking a flight home or they booked with unprofessional people. You cant delegate responsibility. If their arrangements screwed up and it effects Shels than Shels should get the points

I’m sure you’d be saying the same if it was Rovers involved. I note Rovers are not playing this weekend incidentally.

**Kiki Balboa** · 06/08/2022, 3:53 PM

Is there any precedent for this? Has something similar happened in this league or another (game postponed because of a lack of travel arrangments)?

I could see both views... If I remember, Waterford had to play with their u-19s when the majority of their squad were out with Covid-19... Obv not the same, but you could use it as precedent.

**El-Pietro** · 06/08/2022, 4:41 PM

Comfortable win for City at home to Athlone last night. I think we might have scored with nearly every chance we had. We have a huge week coming up next week. Waterford v Galway is on Friday while we're at home to Treaty, and then we're at home to Waterford Monday in a rearranged fixture before we play Cobh away the following Friday. A chance to open up some ground over Galway or a chance for Galway to eat up some of the gap if we're not at it in all 3 games.

**DCSIL** · 06/08/2022, 6:48 PM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

Do Derry fans have a particular animosity towards Dundalk? Because, I don't think Dundalk would see it as a rivalry game (other than the situation in the table).

According to some Derry fans some Dundalk have played up when they’ve come to the Brandy, you’ll have to ask Brendy or DCWA about that as most away fans (apart from Rovers a few years back) are alright. There’s a rivalry in that we’re challenging you and Rovers for trophies.

There was a bus load of lads who’d been drinking all day they might have been involved.

**sbgawa** · 06/08/2022, 7:21 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

I’m sure you’d be saying the same if it was Rovers involved. I note Rovers are not playing this weekend incidentally.

Rovers are not playing this weekend because we went through the correct process and rescheduled the game. Pats could have done the same and chose not to. I would feel the same if it was rovers btw but I will be disaapointed with the club if they couldn't organise their travel arrangements like EVERY other club in Europe this week except Pats.

**legendz** · 06/08/2022, 8:06 PM

Shelbourne have had just two home games in 3 months! It's great to see LoI clubs progressing in Europe but it's a double whammy on their league opponents that they are taking in the European money and disrupting their league rivals season. If Pat's are legitimately stranded in Bulgaria, it is an exceptional circumstance. In all other circumstances, European teams should be playing 3 days later in the domestic league, allowing at least 4 days prior to their next European game. If teams are benefitting from a European hangover, so be it. Success brings more games.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022...d-in-bulgaria/