Bohs to lose points, sell Ward

[Mr A]

From today's Irish Times:

Bohemians likely to be docked points
Emmet Malone

The Irish under-21 international Stephen Ward looks set to sign for the Norwegian Tippeliga team Fredrikstad within days in a deal worth around €250,000 to Bohemians. The Dubliner, who turned 21 yesterday, has also been the subject of interest from the English Championship side Ipswich but is believed to favour a move to Norway and is expected to travel there over the next couple of days to discuss personal terms.

His current club, meanwhile, face the prospect of being docked three points and having to replay Friday's game against Shelbourne after Eircom League officials confirmed yesterday that Jason McGuinness should have missed the 2-1 win through suspension.

Gareth Farrelly is also said to be facing disciplinary action from the league for claiming afterwards that the club had checked with Merrion Square and received confirmation that the centre half was entitled to play. The club's honorary secretary, Gerry Conway, backed the manager's version of events yesterday, insisting he (Conway) had made one of two phone calls to the league's offices and been told the club had no suspensions outstanding.

But league officials yesterday denied any specific inquiry was made regarding the player. They also denied anybody suggested he was available for selection, and they maintained that even if Bohemians had received incorrect information over the phone it would not be a defence as they had been informed of the suspension in writing.

Confusion over the situation appears to have arisen because the automatic suspension McGuinness received for being sent off in the League Cup semi-final against Shelbourne effectively bumped back a ban he was already about to serve for an accumulation of bookings.

Shelbourne officials, who were aware of the situation before Friday's game kicked off, are expected to lodge an official protest over the coming days, and they are entitled to argue that under the rules the match should be replayed.

[OneRedArmy]

Anyone know under what rule(s) $hel$ are demanding the game be replayed? (other than the usual 'Ollie Byrne's rules of natural justice'?).

I'd happily see the points awarded to $hel$.


...........offset of course against them forfeiting every point they earned whilst being in a non-tax compliant status.

Its apt that the "last" self-administered League season has descended into a farce and its ironic that the FAI, as the new "whiter than white" administrators, have their grubby pawprints over many of the SNAFUs this season.

Depressing stuff.

I'd like to see Derry win the League fair and square, but I already have visions of Ollie's slimey face plastered all over the papers regardless of whoever wins the title.

[Poor Student]

If they're entitled to demand a replay, why have other clubs never gotten a replay in a similar situation?

[centre mid]

hands over head again - why can the league not be administered properly

[Red&White]

Games ARE NOT replayed in situations like this.

As someone else said, it's as if the FAI have got summer interns in who are even more clueless about the league then them.

[NeilMcD]

Would be an awful shame if they had to play the game again as Bohs were very deserving of the win. Seems a bit of a sham from the FAI's point of view.

[BrayUnknowns]

Even sadier to see Ward leaving Bohs, he is a real talent and will be hugely missed by Bohs, he is there best player by a long way. Good money for them thou.

[green-blood]

they must be too busy organising a big ex players party for their triumphant forst game in croker.... ******

[Réiteoir]

Looking at the Suspensions lists posted on the WalkTheChalk site - punishments for red cards seem to be decided the Wednesday some 1 1/2 weeks after the matches in which they occurred.

McGuinness was dismissed during the game on 7th August - which if we apply the above criteria will mean his case won't be dealt with until this Wednesday - the 23rd.

We need to see the Suspensions Notification from the meeting on the 9th August - if he doesn't appear on that one - then I think we're in the clear - and he'll be dealt with on Wednesday

[OneRedArmy]

Looking at the Suspensions lists posted on the WalkTheChalk site - punishments for red cards seem to be decided the Wednesday some 1 1/2 weeks after the matches in which they occurred.

McGuinness was dismissed during the game on 7th August - which if we apply the above criteria will mean his case won't be dealt with until this Wednesday - the 23rd.

We need to see the Suspensions Notification from the meeting on the 9th August - if he doesn't appear on that one - then I think we're in the clear - and he'll be dealt with on Wednesday

I understand red card suspensions don't require a notification.

[higgins]

Looking at the Suspensions lists posted on the WalkTheChalk site - punishments for red cards seem to be decided the Wednesday some 1 1/2 weeks after the matches in which they occurred.

McGuinness was dismissed during the game on 7th August - which if we apply the above criteria will mean his case won't be dealt with until this Wednesday - the 23rd.

We need to see the Suspensions Notification from the meeting on the 9th August - if he doesn't appear on that one - then I think we're in the clear - and he'll be dealt with on Wednesday

Yes where have you been ?

He was notified of the yellow card ban and then he received a red card. A red card carries an auto 1 game ban. This pushed his yellow card ban back to the Shels game.

[Ronnie]

This has arisen before. A suspension kicks in 2 weeks from the meeting, if its for an accumalation of points - therefore the first relevant game following this date a player misses a game. So he can play in all games upto that date, for example the Tuesday night before the ban he can play, the Wednesday night he can't. If he gets sent off in the match before his ban, this automatic one game ban kicks in from the very next game and his points ban game comes after this. As Bohs lost the League Cup semi, he was automatically suspended for the next game for the red card and his yellow card ban is pushed back to the next game.

[Réiteoir]

fair enough - the system the English FA uses (which is what I'm most used to) is different - a dismissal isn't ruled on until a week or so later.

[football fan]

I have recently started attending LOI matches and generally go to the match considered the 'big one' on a Friday night as I have not yet started to follow any club.

I was at the Bohs V Shels league game and enjoyed it. Now we have this rubbish about suspended players on top of the Rovers and Derry situations and Dublin City folding. Its like a junior league. In fact most junior leagues are probably better organised and administered.

Its this type of off field rubbish that does not help to attract new supporters/sponsors to the league. From what I have seen so far, the product on the field is not too bad and in general the matches I have attended have been quite entertaining.

[ifk101]

What do Bohs fans think of the Ward transfer?

[monutdfc]

This has arisen before. A suspension kicks in 2 weeks from the meeting, if its for an accumalation of points - therefore the first relevant game following this date a player misses a game. So he can play in all games upto that date, for example the Tuesday night before the ban he can play, the Wednesday night he can't. If he gets sent off in the match before his ban, this automatic one game ban kicks in from the very next game and his points ban game comes after this. As Bohs lost the League Cup semi, he was automatically suspended for the next game for the red card and his yellow card ban is pushed back to the next game.

In a nutshell.
Bohs will lose 3 points, and maybe a fine.
No chance of the game being replayed, or a 3-0 win to Shels. This too has happened before: for example (notwithstanding a possibly successful appeal by Rovers), Dundalk won't get a replay of their game versus Shamrock Rovers; or Athlone didn't get a replay of their game versus us a couple of seasons ago when we won 1-0 but were deducted 3 points for Jimmy Fullam playing while suspended.

[monutdfc]

ps sorry to see Ward leaving the league. A tremendous talent, played out of position on the left wing for Bohs without complaint (that I ever saw), which was a waste for Bohs.

[pete]

Having the game replayed would be bizarre & would just be pandering to Ollie,

3 point penalty & decent fine for Bohs.

250k ok money for Ward & IMO he better on the wing. Good chance of him being resold if he does well however this crowd are 11th of 14 in the Noewegian league.

[BohsPartisan]

What do Bohs fans think of the Ward transfer?

I'll be sorry to see him go, good to see a decent payout but I hope there will be some sell on clauses in it too.

[swano]

I'll be delighted if he's not playing against us on friday as he's an excellent player. Can any of the bohs fans tell me if Caffery is cup tied or if there's a chance of Farrelly being suspended?

Back to Ward, at least its not a derisory fee like we've seen our best players leave for in the past, although moving to Norway is a bit of a strange one.