Clubs back Limerick in stand-off with FAI

AIRTRICITY League of Ireland clubs have rallied behind Limerick in their battle with the FAI over the proposed friendly game against Barcelona at Thomond Park on July 31.

At a scheduled meeting in Dublin ahead of last night’s FAI Cup draw, the 19 clubs in attendance expressed support for Limerick while Jackman Park officials, again backed by the other clubs, made a demand to see the third-party commercial agreement which the FAI has said prevents it from sanctioning the Barcelona game. According to sources at the meeting, it appeared that none of the clubs had previously been aware of the existence of such an agreement. It remains to be seen if the current row impacts on how the clubs will vote, in 10 days’ time, on whether to extend the league’s merger with the FAI beyond 2011.

Earlier yesterday, Limerick Chairman Pat O’ Sullivan was quoted as saying that he would not take the FAI decision “lying down”, as the club’s legal advisors continued to study the remarks made on the issue by FAI boss John Delaney in a radio interview on Sunday.