St Patrick’s Athletic have been fined £1,000 and warned about their future administration for fielding an unregistered player in their opening three games of the season.
Teenage midfielder Paul Marney featured in the club’s opening games against Galway Utd, Shelbourne and Derry City despite the Eircom League’s failure to receive his registration details by registered post, as is required.
League commissioner Roy Dooney had advised club officials the player should be omitted from the team for last Thursday’s game against UCD as an oversight had occurred somewhere along the line.
St Pats failed to produce sufficient documentation required to prove the player’s registration had been sent to the league by registered post.
Rule 16 (a) of the League states a club that fields an unregistered player will be deducted three points for every game that the player makes an appearance. It was expected that the Inchicore club would receive a nine-point deduction, leaving them languishing at the foot of the table on minus-one point.
However, officials from the Eircom League and St Patrick’s Athletic met this morning at Merrion Square where it was decided that an "inadvertent breach of the rules had occurred" and that a £1,000 fine was a sufficient punishment.
Commissioner Dooney said: "From talking to St Pats it is obvious they are highly embarrassed and ashamed by the lapse, but we are satisfied that there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules and gain an unfair advantage on the field of play.
"The basic purpose of the rule is to stop players suddenly appearing from out of nowhere . . . Paul Marney was registered with St Pats last season and has already signed a two-year contract with the club." he said.
Asked how he thought other clubs would receive the news, Dooney said: "I would hope that all clubs think that ‘there but for the grace of God go us’. All humans can make mistakes".
St Pat's club officials commented: "Basically we see this as a decision based on common sense. We accept that we made a human error in registering the player but at no time did we seek to gain an advantage or pull the wool over anyone's eyes. We can now get back to concentrating on this Friday's game versus Cork City."
Two seasons ago, Dundalk and Kilkenny City became embroiled in a similar debate when the latter had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in a first division league match against Limerick.
It emerged that the signature of the player, Fran Carter, had been entered on a registration form in his absence so that he could make his Kilkenny debut on the night.
However, Kilkenny appealed the ruling and, following victory in a rescheduled tie with Limerick, had the points reinstated.
Dundalk officials were outraged as the decision played a major role in the outcome of the first division title. Kilkenny pipped the Oriel club in the race for promotion to the Premier Division.
Speaking to ireland.comtoday Dundalk chairman Des Denning said: "There is no consistency at the highest level. It all depends on who reads it what way."
"I have nothing against St Patrick’s Athletic personally but in these matters sometimes it all depends on who you are."