A SHELBOURNE football player was granted an order in the High Court yesterday allowing him to play in last night's National League match against Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park.
Mr Justice Barron granted the temporary injunction to Mr Pascal Vaudequin (30), of Lower Galliagh Road, Derry, against the FAI and Accolade Ltd, tracing as Shelbourne Football Club. The injunction, which is effective until next Thursday when the case will again come before the court, restrains the defendants from treating Mr Vaudequin as having been a suspended player or fined.
Mr Ronan Murphy, counsel for Mr Vaudequin, said that on October 25th last his client played for Shelbourne in a match against Derry City. He was sent off, and the incident subsequently became the subject of disciplinary proceedings.
He is challenging his purported suspension by a disciplinary commission of the league which would prevent him from playing eight matches and impose a fine. The first of the eight match suspensions was to have been last night's game.
Mr Vaudequin is objecting to the procedures used by the FAI against him. He submits that he has not been lawfully suspended and claims the rules have not been complied with.