FAI Cup memories - Carpenter's contROVERSial FAI Cup penalty decision

Neil Doyle will take charge of today's FAI Cup Final between Dundalk and Cork City - the second time the Dubliner has officiated the event - having refereed Derry City's 2012 win over St. Pat’s. 

The referee will be hoping the headlines won’t be about him but rather that the players will shine on the occasion of Irish domestic football’s big day out. 

However that wasn’t the case for the referee in control of the FAI Cup Final 40 years ago. John Carpenter officiated the 1978 final between Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers. His controversial penalty decision at Dalymount Park is one that still smarts with Sligo Rovers supporters.

Carpenter kept the play going in the first half for three minutes of injury time and when Steve Lynex went over in the box under pressure from Paul Fielding much to Sligo’s chagrin Carpenter pointed to the spot. Ray Treacy slotted the spot kick home for the only goal of the game to win Shamrock Rovers their 21^st FAI Cup.

The Sligo Rovers manager Billy Sinclair described the penalty decision as “diabolical” as reported in the Evening Herald.

“The referee decided that game,” said Sinclair. “I cannot comprehend how he had cause to play those extra minutes.

“I felt the penalty decision was a diabolical one in those conditions, especially as he was well behind on the play, and got no indication of any wrong doing from his linesman.”

Carpenter speaking after the game defended the additional time by saying it was due to time wasting. However the criticism he received the following day saw the referee end up defending his name in court.

That verbal assault came in the confines of Sligo County Council’s chamber when Councillor Anthony McLaughlin spoke about the BitO’Red cup defeat to the Hoops.

The cup final came a few weeks before a League of Ireland selection travelled to Argentina to play a series of matches including one against the then reigning World champions. 

“It’s a good job he’s not going to Argentina or he would be shot there,” said McLaughlin. “Sligo have been victimised from the very start of the cup because all their games were away from home” and “it’s a blatant disgrace” he said in relation to the penalty award.

The Irish Press reported on the court case that followed those comments where Carpenter claimed in court “I was called a robber and a Judas” and that some people refer to him as a “f------ robber”. The referee sought £2,000 damages and costs for defamation.

The judge determined that Carpenter had not suffered loss and awarded him “nominal damages” of £25 plus £251 costs.

A bumper preview of @CorkCityFC and @DundalkFC with match referee Neil Doyle discussing an officials view of the big game! #FAICupFinalhttps://t.co/ImHfVxBLKs

— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) November 3, 2018