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FAI to appeal Andorra decision to UEFA

Unhappy with UEFA’s refusal to play Ireland’s European Championships Group B qualifier with Andorra in Barcelona, the FAI have decided to appeal the decision.

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL’S GOVERNING body, UEFA, has disregarded the requests of the Andorran FA to hold the nation’s European Championships qualifier with Ireland in Barcelona.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) plans to contest the matter on appeal.

The FAI had been working on the assumption that the match, like several of Andorra’s recent home fixtures, would be held in the Catalan capital.

UEFA’s refusal to adhere to precedent looks certain to inconvenience a significant number of Irish fans who had already made travel arrangements for the tie.

FAI President John Delaney described UEFA’s decision as “a real blow to our fans” and suggested that, in light of the Andorran FA’s determination to hold the match in Barcelona, an appeal appeared the approriate course of action.

Ireland are scheduled to play Andorra on October 7th.

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    Mute Kevin Corry
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:17 PM

    John Delaney is an idiot!

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    Mute John Woods
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:16 PM

    Why don’t you text Sepp, think he owes you a favour John. You might make him laugh again.

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    Mute Michael Twomey
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:17 PM

    FAI and appeal in one sentence haha!! im waiting for that maggot delaney to take credit for the fai’s role in Shamrock Rovers progression

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    Mute Jake Gomez
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:30 PM

    can someone tell me if that hair is real?!

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    Mute Ronan McDonnell
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:59 PM

    It was fathered by Terry Wogan’s

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    Mute Kevin Smyth
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    Aug 26th 2011, 4:03 PM

    He got a lend of it off Pat Shortt.

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    Mute Noel Fitzgerald
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    Aug 26th 2011, 2:06 PM

    John, this has very little to do with Sepp Blatter. He is the FIFA president while Michel Platini is the UEFA president so ultimately its up to Platini to decide. I do think it might have been foolish for people to assume the tie was going to be held in Barcelona just because it had been in the past. Perhaps the FAI should have sought clear clarification though.

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    Mute Brian Holland
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    Aug 26th 2011, 2:33 PM

    Both the FAI and the Andorran FA wanted the match played in Barcelona. Uefa have always agreed to similar requests from Andorra in this regard in the past.
    It’s hardly unreasonable to think that, when neither of the associations involved objected and the proposed host (Spain) didn’t object, that Uefa would continue to do what they have done in the past.

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    Mute DeclanFlynn
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    Aug 26th 2011, 2:24 PM

    You know what they say about assumptions… Still at this stage you would have to wonder if we pissed off someone in the Football world and we are now the play thing of FIFA and UEFA.

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    Mute Mike Hawkins
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:23 PM

    @Kevin
    You must know him?

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    Mute Kevin Corry
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    Aug 26th 2011, 1:31 PM

    Thankfully no, but I do remember him making a show of the country by requesting us to be the 33rd team in the world cup…..only an idiot would think of something like that!

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    Mute Marco Van Blastem
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    Aug 26th 2011, 2:47 PM

    I doubt Ireland is even really that significant for UEFA and co to bother holding a grudge. Surprising though that even the country’s own request was denied. Why we are not told. It seems to suit everyone but as usual UEFA are acting the gom.

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    Mute Noel Fitzgerald
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    Aug 26th 2011, 2:48 PM

    Brian, Its not unreasonable but why book flights accommodation for a match before you have booked the tickets? It will clearly state on the tickets where the match is going to be played. We know what these football organisations are like. You can’t assume anything until you are told for definite. Pardon the pun, but they do have a habit of moving the goalposts.

    Declan, i think you are spot on there. I think they would probably use Ireland as a football if they could. We seem to be getting kicked around a lot. I don’t mean to sound paranoid but it wouldn’t surprise me if we do get denied by a bad refereeing decision again if we make it to the play-offs. Either that or they decide to bring in a new rule just before the match. It seems to suit them more if the bigger countries get through. More money for the likes of FIFA and UEFA.

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    Mute Joseph O Reilly
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    Aug 26th 2011, 10:59 PM

    Why is the man who hired steve staunton still in this position??

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    Mute Tony O Donnell
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    Aug 26th 2011, 11:29 PM

    Maybe if we hire our corporate tax rate UEFA might does us a favour

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    Mute Seán Gallagher
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    Aug 30th 2011, 12:16 PM

    Rumour is that the Russians had a big influence on this decision. Keep our support to a minimum since Slovakia only came away with a 1-0 win in Andorra. Just a rumour… but not a whole lot makes sense

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