Why can't Dupuy sign?

[The Rebel Ram]

Is there anyone who can explain why Dupuy can't sign for Rams?
Are the FAI retarded?

[John83]

Rebel Ram is talking about this.

It seems that clubs can't sign an unattached amateur outside of the transfer windows now.

I don't see any justification for it, and suspect it wouldn't hold up in court.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Are the FAI retarded?

Yes

[Poor Student]

There was a contraversy in the SPL a couple of years ago where Livingston signed Hassan Kachloul on amateur terms outside of the window and he played an integral part in ensuring they beat Dundee to stay up in the relegation race. I think the amateur credentials of his terms were highly dubious and let to an eL Ollie Byrne style wrangle with committees, legal threats etc. Maybe the door has been closed on these things to stop unattached free agents from being taken on amateur terms but actually paid like a semi pro/pro off the record?

It's bad luck for Damo unfortunately.

[stann]

There was more than a bit of controversy about this a good few years ago when a certain Jeff McNamara was signed by Dundalk for the two-legged play-off with ourselves, and he played a large part in denying us a place in the Premier.
His amateur credentials were in some serious doubt, it might be said! the fact that Eddie May signed him may or may not have exacerbated this.
Did the league close the loophole after this incident, I'm not sure.
Bad luck for Damien if they did because plainly this isn't that type of case, Cobh simply want to sign a good player for the rest of the season, not a 'guest' for two key games, but I suppose the rules disallow both cases.