A string of League of Ireland clubs have been informed that they must seek Fifa clearance for signings made during the close season after the world game's governing body refused a blanket dispensation from international regulations intended to prevent players from featuring for more than two teams during the one year.

Some managers yesterday estimated that the number of players affected is close to 30 and several expressed anger that the FAI had only informed them of the problem this week despite the fact that some of the players concerned had been registered by their new clubs as far back as January.

On Tuesday, Cork City manager Damien Richardson expressed confidence that two of the best-known cases, those of Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, were close to being resolved after the club replied to a series of queries from Fifa.

Finn Harps, however, expressed "shock" yesterday that the list of registered players they had received back from the FAI did not include defender Seán Holmes because he has featured for Glentoran and Derry City since July 1st.

In all two of the three cases the problem arises in part because the player in question has moved from a jurisdiction where the domestic league is still played through the summer.

It transpires, however, that a significant number of players who have played only for Eircom League sides since last July are also affected with anybody who moved during the summer transfer window, even on loan, and then switched clubs again during the close season running into difficulties.

Pointing out that the situation was essentially an anomaly caused by the season being played here within a calendar year while Fifa base their regulation on a July 1st to June 30th time frame, the FAI have made representations to international federation's Players' Status Committee requesting that the rule should not apply here without appropriate allowances being made.

Fifa, however, have refused to make a wide-ranging exception and clubs have been told by Merrion Square officials that they must apply for exemptions on a player-by-player basis with no guarantee that players will be cleared in time to feature in the first round of league games.