FAI will not appeal UEFA’s Albania decision

THE FAI will not appeal UEFA’s decision to award Albania a 3-0 default win over the Republic of Ireland following last week’s European U-21 championship qualifier at Dalymount Park.

Ireland, who won the Group 10 game 2-1 in Dublin on June 6, were penalised for fielding a suspended player in the match.

The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body ruled that the Republic should not have played captain Liam Miller because he was suspended for repeated cautions, accrued in earlier games in the competition.

UEFA said the Football Association of Ireland could lodge an appeal but have until midnight on Monday to do so.

However an FAI official stated last night that the Association will be not be lodging any such appeal.

“We had already written to UEFA last week apologising for our error, explaining the situation and acknowledging our mistake,” FAI spokesperson Declan Conroy said last night.

“Having done that, and having apologising for our mistake , it would not be appropriate for us to then attempt to launch an appeal to UEFA on the matter,” he said.

That being the case, Albania would move into third place in the group with seven points from six games.

Ireland would drop to the bottom of the table, level with Georgia on two points. Switzerland lead with 16 points.

Ipswich have agreed a fee with Premiership side Charlton Athletic for Republic of Ireland captain Matt Holland after his proposed move to Portsmouth collapsed.

The cash-strapped club had accepted a £750,000 offer from newly-promoted Portsmouth earlier this month. But that deal collapsed because Pompey were unwilling to meet the 29-year-old midfielder’s salary expectations.

Charlton will now open talks with Holland aimed at tying up a move.