FIFA ruling on Keane transfer boosts junior clubs

IRISH soccer was last night celebrating a landmark decision by FIFA which bolsters the coffers of struggling junior and schoolboy clubs which nurture the game’s stars of the future.

FAI chief executive, Fran Rooney applauded the “landmark decision” of football’s governing body to uphold an FAI appeal on behalf of Crumlin United FC for the right to receive solidarity payments in respect of the transfer of Robbie Keane to Tottenham.

The ruling that Crumlin should receive £150,000 of the £7m transfer fee paid by Spurs to Leeds United is a spectacular triumph for Eoin Hand, the FAI’s career guidance officer who successfully processed the case after the English FA had challenged his interpretation of new regulations governing the movement of young players from one jurisdiction to another.