After a protracted saga with Lithuania, the
Irish women's hockey team will next week be told where they stand in relation to the upcoming World Cup.
On January 25th, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAB) in Lucerne will make a final decision on Ireland's appeal against a ruling that denies them an automatic place in September's World Cup.
Ireland lodged their complaint after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) ordered them to join Lithuania in a play-off which was to be incorporated into the Champions Challenge in South Africa next month, a ruling both countries found unsatisfactory.
The saga began last September when Ireland's match against Lithuania during the qualifying tournament in Amiens, France descended into a farce.
After extra time failed to separate the teams, Lithuania won the match on penalties but when it emerged they were taken in the wrong order, Ireland, which they had every right to do, appealed.
The decision was upheld and tournament organisers ordered the shoot-out to be retaken the next morning. Lithuania, upset by the decision, refused to turn up giving Ireland the crucial seventh place and an automatic ticket to the finals in Perth, Australia - or so they thought.
"The team from Lithuania having failed to appear for the Penalty Stroke competition at 10 a.m. in Amiens on Sunday, 30th September is considered as having withdrawn from the classification matches," announced the Tournament Director, Claire Peeters Monseu, at the time.
However, after the tournament, Lithuania lodged an appeal to the FIH requesting the original penalty shoot-out result should stand, the upshot of which was a ruling that they should be given another chance to qualify.
As expected, the decision proved unacceptable to both countries and they both lodged appeals to the Court of Arbitration, whose decision will be final.
"After consulting with legal advisors we felt we had no choice but to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to conclude the matter once and for all," said Joan Morgan Executive Secretary, Irish Hockey Association.