Athlone duo will fight FAI’s ban

Athlone Town players Igors Labuts and Dragos Sfrijan will appeal against the 12-month suspensions handed to them yesterday after an independent disciplinary committee found them to be in breach of FAI rules.

The bans follow an investigation launched on May 3 after a Uefa Betting Fraud Detection System (BFDS) report demonstrated “clear and overwhelming betting evidence that the course or result of” Athlone Town’s game against Longford Town in the SSE Airtricity League First Division on April 29 “was unduly influenced with a view to gaining corrupt betting profits”.

The Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland (PFAI), which represents the Latvian goalkeeper and Romanian midfielder, responded with dismay to the result of the hearing, strenuously questioning the FAI’s disciplinary procedure.