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Glentoran FC Statement

Wed, 17/12/2014 - 16:54

 

Glentoran FC Statement: 17/12/14

Glentoran FC is very shocked and disappointed at the ruling issued today by NIFL, both in terms of the ruling itself and of the very weak and superficial explanation offered by the NIFL.

It seems clear that the NIFL has chosen to join the IFA in attempting to lay a procedural minefield in order to avoid simply applying the rules of the game in this matter. The IFA clearly stated last week that Gary Hamilton was ineligible for Glenavon’s recent league game at the Oval but clearly no one in authority in the game in Northern Ireland is prepared to follow this to its inevitable conclusion. That conclusion should have been the implementation of the mandatory sanction under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

Prior to today’s latest abdication, Glentoran has had a formal request for arbitration acceded to as is the right of all clubs under the IFA Articles of Association. The matter is now in the hands of Sports Arbitration UK, with a hearing likely to take place in January 2015. We are confident of a positive outcome.

On a broader issue, today’s abdication of responsibility by the NIFL has implications well beyond this single matter.  Along with our colleagues at the other clubs, Glentoran willingly bought into the concept of the NIFL as a new dawn for league football in Northern Ireland. It appears that we expected too much as through this ruling the NIFL has clearly demonstrated its subservience to the IFA. On that basis this will guide the nature of  Glentoran’s future interaction with the NIFL.