Limerick FC Denied chance to play Barcalona (disgrace)

[bluepowers]

Limerick FC denied chance to play Barcelona

Limerick FC would like to confirm that they have been in on-going negotiations with FC Barcelona with a view to hosting them in a friendly match at Thomond Park in July of this year.* The club confirms that agreement has been reached between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona that the match would take place on July 31stsubject to official sanctioning by the Football Association of Ireland. The agreement guarantees that the FC Barcelona team to play Limerick will include marquee stars such as Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi, Bojan & all new marquee signingsHowever, Limerick FC has been informed that the Airtricity League Director has refused to sanction the game.* The failure of the FAI & Airtricity League Director to sanction this game ensures that fans throughout the Mid West region and beyond will not have the opportunity to see the world?s greatest stars in action.Pat O?Sullivan, Chairman, Limerick FC said, ?This is a massive setback for Limerick FC, Limerick City and the Mid-West region. We along with Thomond Park & local tourism bodies have worked tirelessly to bring a team of the stature of FC Barcelona to the sports mad Mid West region.* The potential benefit to the local economy of up to ?10million and to the profile of soccer in the region is enormous.* This makes it imperative that the Airtricity League Director reverse his decision, sanction this match and allow fans all over the region see the likes of Lionel Messi grace Thomond Park in July.

[Lim till i die]

Limerick FC would like to confirm that they have been in on-going negotiations with FC Barcelona with a view to hosting them in a friendly match at Thomond Park in July of this year. The club confirms that agreement has been reached between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona that the match would take place on July 31st subject to official sanctioning by the Football Association of Ireland. The agreement guarantees that the FC Barcelona team to play Limerick will include marquee stars such as Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi, Bojan & all new marquee signings

However, Limerick FC has been informed that the Airtricity League Director has refused to sanction the game. The failure of the FAI & Airtricity League Director to sanction this game ensures that fans throughout the Mid West region and beyond will not have the opportunity to see the world’s greatest stars in action.

Pat O’Sullivan, Chairman, Limerick FC said, “This is a massive setback for Limerick FC, Limerick City and the Mid-West region. We along with Thomond Park & local tourism bodies have worked tirelessly to bring a team of the stature of FC Barcelona to the sports mad Mid West region. The potential benefit to the local economy of up to €10million and to the profile of soccer in the region is enormous. This makes it imperative that the Airtricity League Director reverse his decision, sanction this match and allow fans all over the region see the likes of Lionel Messi grace Thomond Park in July.”

Mind Boggling.........

[joeSoap]

Threads merged

[Lim till i die]

Did nae see the other thread boss

[bluepowers]

fai are the fault clubs are in financial difficulties we should bring this to court is it possible

[LK37oldskool]

However if it was Shamrock Rovers................................?

[Jofspring]

This is a disgrace. Are they afraid it might take away from their ****ty friendly with Man U that won't benefit any league of Ireland club

[Partizan]

The FAI have refused to sanction it for the following reasons:

1) Limerick got in ahead of the FAI first and so stole their thunder.
2) If the match went ahead the FAI would stand to make sfa from it.
3) Thierry Henry.

Absolute mind boggling decision

[francesco_1]

This is a disgrace. Are they afraid it might take away from their ****ty friendly with Man U that won't benefit any league of Ireland club

With a club like Barcelona coming to Ireland the red carpet should be laid out by the FAI. I cant see why the FAI did not sanction this, as it would be a major boost for the area and a chance for Limerick to get much needed funds to make them more competitive which in the long run will be better for Irish soccer.

If Limerick and Barcelona had reached an agreement then the FAI must sanction this game end of.

[thomas72]

With a club like Barcelona coming to Ireland the red carpet should be laid out by the FAI. I cant see why the FAI did not sanction this, as it would be a major boost for the area and a chance for Limerick to get much needed funds to make them more competitive which in the long run will be better for Irish soccer.

If Limerick and Barcelona had reached an agreement then the FAI must sanction this game end of.

fcuk the FAI play the match anyway. the fai are a bunch of cowboys as much as i hate roy keane he is on the ball about the fai and why he thinks they do not look outside dublin. ********

[LK37oldskool]

I heard there is a facebook campaign over this,anyone got a link?

[francesco_1]

I heard there is a facebook campaign over this,anyone got a link?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/g...21342104560735

[LK37oldskool]

never thought i'd see the day that Limerick FC would make the front section of the Sunday Times Sports section! Jeez wonders will never cease.all the press coverage is very positive towards Limerick,especaially when it appears that Real Madrid are coming over again to play Rovers. Go figure.....

[Lionel Ritchie]

There's a couple of interesting articles in the papers today. This one in the Sundie makes a few good points though he loses me later when he goes all Muddy Waters about using Croker for 'big' games and the like.

Better one by Richard Sadlier here deconstructs the FAIs nonsense and shines a light on some of the pettiness than can go on as well.

One thing I'm a bit sad to see as people rightly express their anger and annoyance is the "if it were a Dublin club...." angle. It appears to be be based on FAIs not having a problem with the Shams/Real game being arranged through an agency but then stating this as one of their objections the Lims/Barca game. That's just the FAI and Delaney doing what they do best and most often -talking out their hole. I believe I'm right in saying the senior international friendly between Ireland and Brazil at Highbury was arranged with the substantial involvement of "a third party".

The FAI don't have a problem with third parties, agents, or whatever they want to call them. They've merely stated they do to try and pad out a thin, weak arguement. What they've a problem with is a very expensive stadium they can't or won't allow anyone or anything else divert money past that may otherwise have come their way.

[francesco_1]

There's a couple of interesting articles in the papers today. This one in the Sundie makes a few good points though he loses me later when he goes all Muddy Waters about using Croker for 'big' games and the like.

Better one by Richard Sadlier here deconstructs the FAIs nonsense and shines a light on some of the pettiness than can go on as well.

One thing I'm a bit sad to see as people rightly express their anger and annoyance is the "if it were a Dublin club...." angle. It appears to be be based on FAIs not having a problem with the Shams/Real game being arranged through an agency but then stating this as one of their objections the Lims/Barca game. That's just the FAI and Delaney doing what they do best and most often -talking out their hole. I believe I'm right in saying the senior international friendly between Ireland and Brazil at Highbury was arranged with the substantial involvement of "a third party".

The FAI don't have a problem with third parties, agents, or whatever they want to call them. They've merely stated they do to try and pad out a thin, weak arguement. What they've a problem with is a very expensive stadium they can't or won't allow anyone or anything else divert money past that may otherwise have come their way.

The FAI are acting like a spoiled kid. They cant bear the though that an other "lesser" party can outdo them.
Yes the're argument is feeble as best. Something like this cant be just nipped in the bud.

[bluepowers]

Delaney reveals reasons behind Barca snubSunday, 16 May 2010 22:18FAI chief executive John Delaney has revealed he could not authorise Limerick's match with Barcelona because a third-party agency controls friendly matches in Ireland.Delaney has also slammed Limerick for their 'naïve' behaviour during the saga, questioning whether the Catalans had actually agreed to the fixture. Speaking on the Marian Finucane programme on RTÉ Radio on Sunday morning, Delaney said:'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.''I think Limerick have acted very naively in the whole situation. 'Noel Mooney (FAI official) spoke to the owner of Limerick on Friday and 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.'Despite pleas from Limerick, Delaney has quashed any hopes of the FA


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

[joeSoap]

Simple solution to this: Proceed with the friendly and limit the capacity to 19,999 tickets. The FAI cannot sanction games with a capacity of over 20,000 without seeking the permission of the third party they have the agreement with apparently...

'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.'
' We cannot sanction friendlies with attendances in excess of 20,000 without the permission of this agency'.

[LK37oldskool]

we are going to get sooooooooooooo screwed by the FAI next year when we apply for a licence.Bad shower of W*****s up there in Abbotstown,might as well enjoy this season!

[Monkfish]

they couldn't help out a charity soccer match last sunday when asked and they promised help but as the norm with fai nothing happened

Surprise surprise, what did they say they could do for it as a matter of interest? Mr Delaney was all cosy with the Summerville set on Sat so his quota of goodwll towards football in Limerick was well used up by Sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LND3te04sOc

[Castletroy_Blue]

If it is true about not being allowed to host a friendly with a capacity greater than 15/20 thousand, can't we just host Barca in Jackman? Might actually have a pop at beating them with our beautiful slick surface