English FA veto Irish game with Jamaica

The English FA, as anticipated, have vetoed the proposed meeting between the Republic of Ireland and Jamaica at a London venue on March 22nd.

The novel fixture was designed to assist Jamaica's preparations for the World Cup finals and to sharpen the Ireland team for their game against the Czech Republic at Oromouc on March 25th. However, it ran into difficulties.

Paramount to everything else, was the goodwill of the English FA and they were not prepared to sanction the game.

Responding to the application, the English FA said: "The precedent which would have been created if the game had been approved and the effect that the fixture might have had on the Football League programme that weekend, were critical in arriving at a decision."

The FAI can hardly have been surprised at the reaction to a proposal which was tabled, in the first instance, by an agent acting on behalf the Jamaican Federation. It means that instead of assembling on Sunday, March 22nd, the Ireland squad will now get together the following day for the journey to the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, a statement issued yesterday by the FAI said that, contrary to some reports, the High Court hearing on a transfer fees dispute involving Derry City and other National League clubs, has not been completed. Both sides have sought a hearing of the case which is now scheduled for late March or early April.