Limerick FC insist the FAI is not in talks with Barcelona over a possible visit to the Aviva Stadium in the summer of 2011 and have called on the association to sanction their proposed match against the Catalan giants for July 31st at Thomond Park.
The Division One club claims an agreement is in place with the current European champions and the two clubs are merely awaiting FAI approval for the match to go ahead.
During the week the League of Ireland said the match could not go ahead because of "third party commercial agreements", while the FAI said it was hoping to bring Barcelona to the newly-built Aviva Stadium.
The potential for the Limerick game to clash with League of Ireland games that night was also cited as a reason for the refusal.
In a statement released this morning, Limerick said it would be a shame for the FAI to “have the indignity of being the first national association” to refuse Barcelona a friendly on its soil
“The failure of the FAI to sanction the friendly game with Limerick FC on July 31st could thus impact negatively future plans for FC Barcelona to visit Ireland,” it added.
While acknowledging the FAI made contact with Barcelona over a possible visit to Dublin next year, the statement added “no formal” plans are in place, no date has been set and “no financial terms have been proposed by the FAI”.
“The only negotiations that FC Barcelona have undertaken in Ireland during this year are with Limerick FC and a heads of agreement has been reached by both parties for July 31st in Thomond Park.”
The club has also dismissed the suggestion that the game could detract from the visit of a Manchester United side to the Aviva Stadium on August 4th.
“In addition the closeness of just five days between our clubs proposed game in Thomond Park to the visit of Manchester United to the Aviva Stadium, is something that should be embraced by the FAI.
“It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Irish fans to see two of the world’s biggest clubs grace two of Ireland’s greatest stadiums in quick succession.”
The statement concluded, saying: “Both clubs are calling on the FAI to sanction the game for the good of Irish football, Limerick FC, Limerick City and entire Mid-West region.”
As was the case yesterday, when FAI chief executive John Delaney refused to discuss the matter, the association has this afternoon declined to comment on legal grounds.