Sam Hammam's hopes of relocating Wimbledon FC in Dublin received a significant setback yesterday after the first formal session of FIFA's congress had voted down the proposal unanimously.

The Wimbledon chairman was not in Paris yesterday when delegates were told by the top table of the FAI's implacable opposition to the move.

It was pointed out that, only in those instances in which the authorities in the jurisdiction into which a club proposed to move, were prepared to give their consent could it be endorsed by the parent body.

The FAI, by words and actions, had disowned the suggestion and in that situation it was beholding on FIFA to give them their full, unqualified support.

There were no dissenting voices, no counter proposals as the meeting moved on to the next item on the agenda.

"In as much as FIFA have already made their position clear to us, it was no real surprise today, but it was still encouraging that the Wimbledon thing was shot down at a full FIFA Congress," said Pat Quigley, the FAI president.

However, supporters of the Wimbledon for Dublin Campaign have indicated that they will refer the matter to the European Court for final arbitration.