FAI 'strongly rejects' Kerry FC’s claims of being 'bullied into silence'

The FAI have released a statement to clarify what they believe to be "several inaccuracies" contained within Kerry FC’s strongly worded statement following their points deduction recently. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Football Association of Ireland have released a statement to clarify what they believe to be "several inaccuracies" contained within Kerry FC’s strongly worded statement following their points deduction recently.

The Kingdom released a statement on Thursday to confirm that they are appealing a three-point deduction, stressing football should be “governed with integrity, not intimidation.”

This came following Wednesday's announcement that the FAI had issued two decisions by their independent disciplinary committee related to First Division games on the opening night of the season where they decreed that Kerry had fielded an ineligible player, Stevan Stanic-Floody, and Finn Harps had 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 but, as the result of both sides being deemed to have fielded ineligible players, the fixture was annulled and the scoreline was voided with neither team receiving any points.

And in a statement released on Friday morning, the FAI moved to clarify the reasons behind their initial ruling.

"The FAI would like to clarify several inaccuracies contained within Kerry FC’s statement that was issued yesterday (Thursday)," they began.

"The Independent Disciplinary Committee convened on 11 March 2025 to address several disciplinary matters, including the eligibility of a Kerry FC player.

"Due to the complex nature of this matter, which related to the eligibility of two players on opposition teams in the same fixture, the Independent Disciplinary Committee believed it was necessary to engage in detailed discussions before hearing Kerry FC’s submissions. While these discussions were ongoing Kerry FC were regularly updated by an FAI representative.

"Kerry FC subsequently informed an FAI representative that they would not participate in the disciplinary hearing. At the request of the Independent Disciplinary Committee, an FAI representative spoke to Kerry FC on multiple occasions to offer further opportunities to attend the disciplinary hearing, but these offers were declined.

"The purpose of this disciplinary hearing was to allow Kerry FC make representations on their views on the appropriate sanction specifically, whether to annul the result of the game or replay the fixture. This hearing was notified to Kerry FC two weeks in advance and was not arranged at Kerry FC’s request.

"During the hearing, a Kerry FC representative was asked twice by the Legal Chair of the Independent Disciplinary Committee whether they had any concerns about the fairness of the disciplinary process and they explicitly confirmed they did not, directly contradicting their public statement.

"Any suggestion that the Independent Disciplinary Committee failed to attend a disciplinary hearing or that Kerry FC were denied due process is entirely false. The FAI strongly rejects Kerry FC’s claims of being 'bullied into silence' or subjected to any intimidation.

"The Independent Disciplinary Committee thoroughly examined the matter and made a decision in accordance with the FAI Disciplinary Regulations."