By Paul Doyle
The FAI today revealed it has decided to uphold Shelbourne’s appeal of the eircom League’s decision not to deduct points from St Patrick’s Athletic after the club fielded an ineligible player.
St. Pat’s learned in a registered letter from the association this morning they will therefore be deducted nine points.
The league statutes stipulate clubs who field ineligible players must be docked three points for each match the player participates in.
St. Pat’s Paul Marney played in three matches this season while improperly registered. The eircom league had originally taken a lenient view of what it considered "an inadvertent breach of the rules" and imposed only a £1,000 fine.
Shelbourne and Derry City appealed this decision, stating the rulebook was unequivocal and the points had to be deducted. Derry’s appeal was rejected on the grounds that it was not accompanied by the obligatory £300 fee. But Shelbourne’s appeal was upheld.
St. Pat’s, who are top of the league, are this morning seeking legal advice.