The situation is in a mess in Northern Ireland in the amateur football scene. Training has started in full force, and the clubs are chomping at the bit to play matches again. However, at this moment, the start of the new league is not happening any time soon. Why, you ask? Amateur club Donaghadee has taken the Irish Football Association to arbitration. And until that is resolved, nothing can start for now.
An amateur club is taking on the might of a football association by taking them to arbitration on the basis that there was an error in law how they interpreted their rules. Manager of Donaghadee Jamie Bryson was incredulous on how the entire situation has been handled, “The IFA code of conduct requires all committee’s- including ‘independent appeals committee’ to “take all decisions in the best interests of the IFA”. I say that’s wrong in law and also contrary to FIFA.”
This challenge (which is being spearheaded by the manager Jamie Bryson himself) will hold up all Amateur football in Northern Ireland starting again. It could cost the Northern Amateur Football League up to £16,000. Donaghadee were still in the Cup competitions when all football was stopped in Northern Ireland.
There were two core issues in the arbitration action from my reading of the draft. One is whether the league are indeed permitted to set aside their rules in order to do whatever they feel was correct. Donaghadee’s case is that the league have gone beyond their powers. A pandemic doesn’t make unlawful actions lawful.
Also, the Independent Appeals Committee is forced to subscribe to a code of conduct which requires them to make all decisions in the interests of the Association. Therefore clearly there’s an issue of bias. Out of arbitration, the club are asking for the league to be forced to conclude the season by some mechanism- rather than merely leaving it unfinished and just halting the cups without any due process.
If the club are successful in their arbitration action, it can be a game-changer not only in Amateur football, but also the entire structure of football in NI. Jamie Bryson explains, “If successful in arbitration on the point around the ‘code of conduct’ tainting all their decisions, then all decisions of the Appeals Committee could be overturned and could force a complete change in the entire structure of football in NI. The case is essentially following many of the same issues as Hearts, and one next step could be a dispute over whether after arbitration, the parties can go to the High Court in Northern Ireland.”
Another source in the club told me that they are in close contact with a club in Scotland regarding this. It seems interesting that the challenge to IFA is emerging from an amateur club – and this is something that could force a structural change.
There is the potential for no football for months, or atleast until this is resolved one way or the other. With the club even ready to take it to the High Court, this seems to be something that is not going to be going away.
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