PLANS FOR Wimbledon to relocate to Dublin could be scuppered before they even begin to seek approval formally from the FAI - because of the infamous Jean-Marc Bosman ruling whereby out-of-contract players can move abroad without any transfer fee involved.
As the case of Derry City has underlined, the Brandywell club can acquire out-of-contract players from other National League clubs for free. This is because, according to the EC's ruling on the Bosman case, and UEFA's ensuing interpretation of it, Derry are deemed first and foremost to fall under the jurisdiction of Britain as opposed to the Republic.
Although remaining part of the English FA, similarly however, Wimbledon (or Dublin Dons or Whatever the relocated club might call themselves) would fall under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland.
As such they would be subject to the law of the land, not to the law of the association, with regard to the Bosman ruling. Thus, they would be able to acquire any out-of-contract English Premiership player (Giggs, Cantona, McAllister, whoever) without a transfer fee involved.
This scenario has now dawned on Premiership club chairmen who are developing cold feet about the whole idea. One of them admits: "Yes, there are problems now about Wimbledon's proposal to be based in Dublin. Unless the same transfer regulations apply to them, it's difficult to see how the club chairmen and by extension the FA can ratify their proposal."
Meanwhile, in the fall-out from the FAI Cup final, the St Patrick's Athletic manager Brian Kerr remains slightly peeved that the match officials failed to see that stand-in Shelbourne goalkeeper Brian Flood carried the ball across his line when removing streamers from his goal.
"I'm satisfied that he crossed the line with the ball," said Kerr yesterday, and he maintained "these things shouldn't happen." Television evidence was inconclusive, although both commentators, Johnny Giles and George Hamilton, were convinced Flood had done so, apparently under the impression that referee Pat Kelly had stopped play for a free-kick.
According to other eye witnesses, the watching Mick McCarthy was also of that opinion, though Flood himself claims he didn't and in a sense it's all immaterial now. As the St Patrick's central defender and captain John McDonnell said yesterday: "Who'd like to win a Cup final that way."
All in all, it was a tremendously sporting occasion, in which both teams and sets of supporters conducted themselves superbly. Even in the light of his reluctant decision to dismiss the Shelbourne goalkeeper Alan Gough, Kelly was applauded on entering the Shelbourne dressing-room when given a retirement presentation by the club chairman Finbarr Flood.
Privately, Shelbourne would also be the first to regret that Kelly is not doing the replay (no disrespect to Wilfred Wallace or any other referee). Tickets are expected to go on sale through Merrion Square and the two clubs from tomorrow and have been priced at Pounds 12 (for the stand), Pounds 5 for the terraces, and Pounds 1 for boys and girls on the terraces.
Shelbourne have been allocated the St Peter's Road (or Shed) end, with St Patrick's placed in the Phibsboro end. FAI chiefs have also decided that, in contrast to all previous rounds, the final cannot go to a second replay.
In the event of the sides finishing level again after 90 minutes, 30 minutes extra time will be played and then, if needs be, there will be a penalty shoot-out.
On a separate matter, as regards his testimonial, Kerr has been able to assemble the nucleus of both his 1990 and 1996 championship winning sides. The former St Patrick's quartet of Bohemians players Dave Henderson, Maurice O'Driscoll, Mick Moody and Tony O'Connor are included in the squad for the game against Middlesbrough tomorrow night, as are Pat Fenlon (Linfield), John Tracey (Monaghan), with Dnmien Byrne as manager.
Curtis Fleming, of course, has been included in the Middlesbrough squad, as have the Brazilian internationals Juninho and Branco, along with the bulk of Middlesbrough's colony of nine Irish players.
