QuoteIRELAND.COM
Domestic football remains in a state of high tension this morning as all involved with the local game await a postman's knock. Or, following technological advances made in the 20th century, a facsimile transmission.
The FAI have yet to decide how to communicate the verdict on last night's appeal into St. Patrick's Atheltic 15 point deduction, imposed over the improper registration of top-scorer Charles Mbabazi Livingstone. Though the FAI are aware, obviously, of the decision, they are playing dumb unitl such time as St. Pats and Shelbourne have been informed.
Dumb, in a different sense, is how many observers have described various aspects of this season's domestic soccer scandals, but all agree that if the FAI had consistently shown such fervour for formality, the league would not find itself on the verge of a legal quagmire.
If it turns out that the three-man appeal panel overturned the points deduction, then St Pats will be champions and Shelbourne are shunted down into second.
If the deduction is upheld, Shels will be allowed pick up the winners medals more than two weeks after the season has ended, and St Pats will have to prepare for an Inter-toto match on June 22nd.
Whatever the outcome, one side is likely to be less than satisfied, and given that Shelbourne General Secretary Ollie Byrne last night said the title was worth at least €300,000 in terms of spin-offs from Europe, it is hard to see either club giving up without a legal fight.
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