Dundalk FC manager Jon Daly has described the FAI’s decision to postpone Sunday’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture with St Patrick’s Athletic as ‘farcical’.
At 4.47pm on Friday, the club received correspondence from the FAI that the game, which was due to take place at Oriel Park at 3pm on Sunday, was postponed.
A statement released by the League of Ireland said: ‘The postponement comes as a result of the unique opportunity that now exists for two League of Ireland clubs to compete in the League Phase of UEFA Club competitions for the first time as St Patrick’s Athletic travel to Istanbul for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League Play-Off with İstanbul Başakşehir.
‘Having taken into consideration the exceptional circumstances that the fixtures between each leg for St Patrick Athletic is six days instead of the standard seven, the League of Ireland has postponed this Sunday’s fixture at Oriel Park and a new date will be announced in due course.’
The decision means that Dundalk’s next game, against Shelbourne on Friday, August 30th, will come 21 days after their last competitive outing against Derry City on August 9th.
“To call a game off, 46 hours before it is due to get underway, is farcical,” said Daly. “I think it shows that if you make enough noise and apply pressure in the right areas you can clearly get your way.
“The reasons that the FAI have outlined for postponing the game were as relevant last Thursday, when St Patrick’s Athletic qualified for the playoff round, as they are today. A decision could easily have been made at that point to postpone the game.
“From a football point of view, we will have gone 21 days without a competitive game. That is completely unacceptable at a stage of the season where we have just nine fixtures to play.
“The issue of sporting integrity also has to be called into question. Clubs in and around us have already had – and will have – the benefit of playing clubs on the back of European fixtures. There is zero consistency.
“We constantly hear about how we need to grow the league and make it more professional but this decision makes it look anything but.”
Daly’s frustration was echoed by Dundalk FC owner Brian Ainscough and CEO Peter Halpin.
“As a club, we have been completely blindsided by this decision,” said Ainscough “Last night, and even late this afternoon, we had no reason to think that this game would not be played.
“At 4pm on Friday, I received a call from the League of Ireland director Mark Scanlon who told me that it wasn’t his decision but he had been directed by the CEO and President of the FAI to cancel the game.
“The Participation Agreement clearly states that it’s the League of Ireland director who makes the call on such matters and it’s hard to accept, and respect, a decision that is made in this fashion.”
“The decision to call the game off at such a late stage has a huge impact on all aspects of the club,” said Halpin.
“The amount of off-the-field planning that goes into each match day, from the likes of ticketing, sponsorship, security, organising medical personnel and volunteers, is huge and to have that completely wiped out at such late notice is really frustrating for myself and all of the staff at the club.”
A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course. Tickets that were purchased for the game on Sunday can be transferred to the rescheduled date.
