FAI fined but happy with decision

Jubilation greeted yesterday's judgement by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Committee to reschedule the Republic of Ireland's European Championship game against Yugoslavia for Dublin later in the year.

After a marathon three-hour sitting of the Committee, devoted entirely to the postponement, the FAI escaped with a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs, approximately £24,000, for the Government's unprecedented action in withholding visas from the Yugoslav party.

Additionally, they must repay the costs of Yugoslavia's preparation for the aborted fixture and the expenditure involved in convening yesterday's meeting which was chaired by the Belgian, Alain Courtois and included representatives from Denmark, Switerland, Hungary and Italy.

Those costs have yet to be quantified, but given the fact that the FAI stood to lose close on £31.5m if the points were awarded by default to the Yugoslavs, it represented a near perfect verdict for the Irish.

"Yes, we have to be happy with that decision, particularly when it is related to the other sanctions which might have been imposed," said Pat Quigley, the FAI president.

"The overriding consideration was to have the chance of competing for three important points in a home game and in that, we have been successful."

Together with Tony O'Neill, Quigley presented the Irish case after Courtois had opened the meeting by stating that his committee had decided to invoke Article 10, Paragraph five of the Championship regulations, governing games which are called-off because of an unilateral decision.

The relevant paragraph states: "If a match cannot be played or cannot be completed through the fault of one team, the Control and Disciplinary Committee shall either declare the match to be null and void, disqualify the team concerned from the competition or take any other disciplinary action which it deems necessary."

That was an introduction designed to remove any false sense of complacency and for the next 45 minutes, the Irish delegation was subjected to a rigorous question and answer session on the propriety of governments intervening in matters relating to sport.

In particular, they were queried on what action they had taken to pre-empt the Government's decision and their reaction to it, when it was announced. It bespoke UEFA's deeply held conviction that politics should never intrude on sport and their fear that the Irish Government's decision created an ominous precedent.

After Quigley and O'Neill had retired from the meeting, the debate continued for more than two hours before Courtois delivered a judgement which most football people will regard as Solomon like.

"It was all ominous enough at the start but, fortunately, there was enough goodwill around, enough understanding that the postponement was not of our making, to persuade the committee to make the sensible decision," said Quigley.

September 1st is still seen as the likely date for the refixture, although the Euro 2000 Championship committee intimated that all the logistical details will have to be clarified before it is confirmed.

It will mean a punitive programme of three games in eight days for Ireland who are already committed to away fixtures in Croatia on September 5th and in Malta on September 8th, but Mick McCarthy is prepared to go with the risk.

"In an ideal world we would be rearing up at that prospect, but given the circumstances, I think it's now acceptable," he said. "I reckon we'll have a problem or two in attempting to enforce the five-day release rule for our players but then, so also, will the Yugoslavs.

"It's going to make qualification that little bit more difficult but we'll manage. After the postponement, all kinds of dark scenarios were being painted, but, deep down, I never thought that we'd be thrown out of the competition.

"That possibility was diluted after the Government had received support from several other countries for their action, but, of course, its still a relief to be able to play Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road."

Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, said that he will have "no problem" in attending the rescheduled game after indicating initially, that in common with other members of the Government, he would boycott the June 5th fixture.

"It was the correct decision for us to make at the time and I'm very happy that Mick McCarthy and his players will now have an opportunity of winning the game in Dublin and hopefully, qualifying for the finals of the European championship".

The Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid, said that it was at least satisfactory that the game will be rescheduled and that the FAI retains the right to host the fixture.

"I am available to discuss with the FAI any aspect of this decision by UEFA. I will be meeting representatives of the FAI in the coming week when the matter will be discussed further," said McDaid.