Limerick and Barcelona ratchet up the pressure on FAI in bid to revive clash

LIMERICK, both club and city, are continuing to pile on the pressure in a bid to get the FAI to sanction the proposed friendly game against Barcelona at Thomond Park on July 31.

It’s understood that an agreed statement between the two clubs will be released today, in which Barca will say that they are not currently negotiating with the FAI a proposed friendly in the new Aviva Stadium in 2011, rather that they are concentrating on the Thomond Park game against Limerick. Both clubs will reiterate that pending sanction from the FAI, they want the game to go ahead.

On Thursday night, the FAI issued a statement in which they said that Limerick FC had been informed that permission for the game could not be given for three reasons: third-party commercial agreements already entered into by the FAI, their own negotiations to bring Barcelona to Dublin and clashes with Airtricity League fixtures.

However, Limerick continue to insist that in official communication from league director Fran Gavin, the only reason given for refusing sanction was that Airtricity League fixtures were already set for the same date.

Limerick made this point in correspondence with the FAI yesterday, in the course of which it’s understood that reference was made to “interference” by the Association in the club’s contractual negotiations with FC Barcelona.

Speaking at the opening of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin yesterday, FAI chief executive John Delaney refused to answer questions about the situation.

Asked if the FAI had previously denied permission to another Irish club – understood to be Bohemians – to bring Barca to this country, Delaney replied: “No, I don’t know what... to be honest with you my week has been spent dealing with the Europa League, dealing with meetings here and, as for the Barcelona issue, there was a press release last night but I can’t deal with it today because of correspondence in from Limerick. For legal reasons, I can’t comment on it.”

Back on Shannonside, Kieran MacSweeney, President of Limerick Chamber said: “If one of the top clubs in the world is willing to come to Thomond Park to play, why is our national football association unwilling to support this? ”

Meanwhile, in response to criticism that Aviva Stadium Vantage Club members would not get seats automatically for the opening game at the new ground on August 4 between an Airtricity League XI and Manchester United, Delaney indicated a softening of the FAI’s position. “I’ve spoken to the Vantage guys about it,” he said. “Next week we’ll look at it. And to be fair to them, I think we can do one of two things. Or both. Either offer them the opportunity to buy more tickets if they want or we can also look at some discount for the Vantage seat holders in relation to that game.”