'We will not accept being bullied into silence' - Kerry’s stinging rebuke to FAI sanction

The Mounthawk Park side will appeal the decision, they insist.

OPENING NIGHT: Joe Adams of Kerry celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Finn Harps at Mounthawk Park in Tralee on Valentine's night. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry FC have confirmed they are appealing a three-point deduction, stressing football should be “governed with integrity, not intimidation.” On Wednesday, the FAI issued two decisions by their independent disciplinary committee related to First Division games on the opening night of the season. They decreed that because Kerry FC had fielded an ineligible player, Stevan Stanic-Floody, and Finn Harps FC fielded an ineligible player, Gavin Hodgins, in their fixture versus each other.

That game at Mounthawk Park finished in a 2-0 victory for Kerry yet, as the result of this fixture is annulled, the scoreline is void and neither team will receive any points.

In a strongly-worded response released today, the League of Ireland’s newest club – playing on their second season in senior football – said they followed registration procedure, alleging any breach on the FAI system is attributable to an association employee.

They state: “The status of the player in question on the FAI Comet system was confirmed on February 5th, and was set to ‘Active’ on February 11th, by an FAI employee, meaning our player could be added to the matchday squad on February 14th, and given the green light to play for Kerry FC in the season opener by the FAI. Making our player eligible to play in the FAI’s system, is an action that can only be performed by an FAI employee.

The player in question was introduced to the game as a substitute, with approximately two minutes of the game remaining, when Kerry FC led 2-0.” 

How the case was handled also seems to be moot.

They added:“Kerry FC was invited to a Zoom call on March 10th, by an FAI Disciplinary Committee. Kerry FC attended the call and remained present on the call for up to an hour, waiting for the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee never showed.

“Kerry FC was notified by email from the FAI that the club did not attend the meeting with the Disciplinary Committee and was given options to annul or replay the match. We requested a meeting with the Disciplinary Committee to plead our case.” 

This hearing was set up for March 27.

“A meeting took place where the Disciplinary Committee dismissed all the evidence we brought to the meeting,” Kerry contend before summaries the outomce.

“The FAI now claims that an error has occurred, but insists that the fault is not theirs, and that Kerry FC is to blame.

“They have issued our club a €1,000 fine and have ruled that our opening win against Finn Harps be forfeited. We do not believe that Finn Harps are disputing the result of the match.

“Rather than admitting to a system error and correcting the issue, the FAI has instead attempted to shift blame onto Kerry FC while silencing any dissent.” 

Kerry, which received an investment of €1.5 million in December from US-based Tralee native John Wall, broadened their point into a cutting critique of the disciplinary process.

“Football should be governed with integrity, not intimidation. We will not accept being bullied into silence. Kerry FC calls on the FAI to immediately investigate this and take appropriate action.

“Clubs like Kerry FC rely on strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders to grow the game, improve facilities, and bring professional football to more communities.

“Unfair rulings without due process make it harder for clubs like ours to develop and contribute positively to Irish football.

“This is not just about Kerry FC—this is about ensuring that the game is governed with transparency and accountability.

“If this can happen to us, it can happen to anyone. We believe in fair competition and the integrity of Irish football.

“We remain immensely proud of the performance of our Kerry FC team, and the amazing and joyful moments of our Valentine’s night victory at the start of this season.

“We’ll never forget that one of our stars, Joe Adams, went into Kerry FC folklore by both scoring and getting sent off in his debut match that night, and who can forget his unique goal celebration?

“Another of our stars, Niall Brookwell, scored an amazing goal on his debut that same Valentine’s night.

“Those of us that witnessed that opening night victory will never forget it and we thank Finn Harps for a spirited and sporting game that night and look forward to visiting them soon for our away fixture. Nothing about the FAI’s ruling changes any of that.” 

They conclude by saying: “Kerry Football Club will be appealing this unjust ruling.”