Shamrock Rovers confirm appeal against FAI Cup protest decision

ROVERS APPEAL: Dawson Devoy in action against Trevor Clarke of Shamrock Rovers during the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup second round. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Sunday’s FAI Cup meeting between Kerry and Bohemians is in doubt after Shamrock Rovers took their eligibility grievance to the next appeal stage.

Rovers unsuccessfully protested that Dawson Devoy should have been banned for their opening round Cup elimination to Bohs at Dalymount Park on July 19.

They argued Devoy ought to have served a suspension upon his return to the club from MK Dons for a red card incurred during an EFL Trophy tie last December As the FAI didn’t recognise that competition for this purpose, they cleared Bohs to field the midfielder and instead issued the suspension for following week’s league game against Dundalk.

Rovers on Wednesday confirmed their intention to appeal the ruling, with a hearing due to take place on Friday. 

However, as this outcome, in turn, can be escalated to arbitration, the first-ever meeting of Bohs and the Kingdom at Mounthawk Park is in jeopardy. As of Wednesday night, the FAI insisted their fixture scheduled hadn’t changed.

They said: “The appeal, as with the original protest, will focus on several aspects, most notably the statutory basis and decision-making process for determining player eligibility for the game. The club will make no further comment on the process at this time.” 

Earlier, when asked at his pre-match press conference for Thursday’s Europa League third qualifying round second leg against NK Celje, Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said: “The appeal has gone in. I don’t know where that is.

“The legal advice was to appeal. Let’s focus on tomorrow, and then if I’m told we have a game Sunday, great.” 

The usual sanction for fielding an ineligible player is expulsion from the competition but Bohemians sought and acted on the advice of the governing body.

A replay is a potential form of recourse but that would most certainly be rejected by Bohemians.

They last lifted the FAI Cup in 2008 and were runners-up in two of the past three years.