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FAI decision will have huge implications on LOI title race, Euro spots

By Kieran Hurley

Aidan Keena celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 First Qualifying Round First Leg match between Bala Town v Sligo Rovers at Park Hall Stadium on July 7, 2022 in Oswestry, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Aidan Keena celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 First Qualifying Round First Leg match between Bala Town v Sligo Rovers at Park Hall Stadium on July 7, 2022 in Oswestry, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
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League of Ireland
Adam McDonnell during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 first qualifying round first -leg match between Bala Town and Sligo Rovers at Park Hall Stadium on July 7, 2022 in Oswestry, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

As the League of Ireland Premier Division heads into its final handful of matches in the 2022 campaign, the FAI has made a decision that will have implications on the title race and on which teams may qualify for European football.

The match that caused the controversy was played on Aug. 29. In that contest, Sligo Rovers beat Dundalk FC 2-0. This result kept Sligo within striking distance of fourth place in the league table, a spot which could become a Europa Conference League first-round qualifying place if the winners of the Extra.ie FAI Cup finish top-three in the league table.

This Dundalk FC loss meant that they were stuck 4 points behind Shamrock Rovers, who are in first, and Rovers have two games in hand on Dundalk.

FAI ruled Sligo Rovers fielded ineligible player, forfeit announced

The FAI statement read:

"An independent Disciplinary Committee of the Football Association of Ireland has determined that Sligo Rovers FC fielded an ineligible player in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixture against Dundalk FC on Monday, August 29th 2022. The Committee has ruled that Sligo Rovers FC will forfeit the game by a scoreline of 0-3."

According to Sligo Rovers, the ineligible player who appeared against Dundalk is Adam McDonnell and he was allegedly suspended for this match.

This Sligo forfeit means they have now “lost” their late August game to Dundalk 3-0. Dundalk is now awarded the 3 points and have moved into second place in the Premier Division behind Shamrock Rovers who have two matches in hand on Dundalk.

Sligo went from being 7 points behind St. Patrick’s Athletic, in fourth, with a glimmer of hope of again qualifying for Europe, to now 10 points behind St. Pat’s.

There is no doubt that this decision will have huge title implications, while also affecting which Irish clubs qualify for Europe in 2023-2024. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds, especially when the season ends and we see where each club affected finishes in the league table.

Next. Shamrock Rovers make return to European group stages. dark

League of Ireland Supporters: Which club do you think is going to win the league title this campaign? Leave your comments below!

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