Limerick strongly refute Wexford claims
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Limerick 37 have hit back strongly to suggestions by Wexford Youths manager Mick Wallace that the Shannonsiders had no intention of ever fulfilling their fixture on Monday evening and have asked for a full retraction. A row over where Limerick should warm-up ultimately saw the match called off, and now Limerick have issued two statements, a second one from the club and another from the players, stating that Wallace's allegations are "unfounded". The FAI have also expressed their "extreme dissatisfaction" with events.
Limerick made their first statement last night and added the following one this morning.
Limerick 37 would like to make this additional statement regarding the events that took place at Ferrycarrig Park on yesterday evening, Monday October 6th.
Limerick 37 would like to completely refute the unfounded allegations made by Wexford Manager Mick Wallace on Newstalk yesterday evening and repeated on RTE Radio today, when he implied that the club had no intention of fulfilling the fixture upon arrival. To suggest that the club would travel the entire way to Wexford with the express desire to not carry out the fixture is completely untrue. Such an allegation by a manager of a fellow member of the league is verging on bringing the game into disrepute and the club expect a full retraction at the earliest possible occasion.
In addition Limerick 37 would like to confirm that the team arrived in the ground at 6pm above the requisite 90 minutes before kick off and were forced to sit in the changing rooms for over an hour waiting for access to warm up. In addition the referee Rob Rodgers confirmed to Limerick 37 that he would not be warming up on the back pitch in question as he deemed the lighting unsafe. Limerick 37 changed back in to their team suits at 7.20 and had boarded the team bus when they were finally given a grudging and unofficial permission by Mick Wallace to go on to the main pitch at 7.25pm. At this stage the team manager had already instructed his players that they were not in a position to fulfil the fixture as they were not in a position to complete their 60 minute warm up routine that they carry out for each and every game. At no stage was any member of Limerick 37 informed officially by the referees or match officials that they were allowed access to the main pitch or that kick-off time could be put be put back to accommodate a full warm up.
The matter is now an official FAI matter and the club will be making no further comment.
Then, shortly after, Limerick captain Pat Purcell issued a statement on behalf of the playing squad.
The players of Limerick 37 would like formally to state on record that due to major health & safety issues they were not prepared to use the warm up area as instructed by Wexford Youths FC. The reason was that there was insufficient lighting provided and the safety of the players would be put at risk. At no time prior to leaving at 7.30 were we informed that we could warm up on the main pitch. All the players were unanimous in support of the decision not to use the back pitch. We are extremely disappointed, firstly for the fans from both teams that had travelled to the match and also for the inconvenience caused to the players considering the majority of the squad are part time and had to take half days from work and college for this fixture. There have been comments made by Wexford Management regarding our squad, these comments are needless and unfounded, the moral and team spirit within our camp is higher than ever and the squad and management of Limerick 37 are 100% united.
The FAI, meanwhile, also issued a statement on the matter.
In response to yesterday evening’s cancelled eircom League of Ireland first division match between Wexford Youths and Limerick 37, the FAI will review the detail of the referee’s report and the match delegate’s report and under disciplinary procedures, both clubs will be asked to provide a full response to those reports within the next three working days. After this the matter will be put before the FAI Disciplinary Committee.
Director of the eircom League of Ireland, Fran Gavin, said: "We are deeply disappointed and dissatisfied that this match did not go ahead and we will be carrying out a full review and disciplinary process to take appropriate action. We will not be in a position to comment further until this case is heard."
The whole dispute kicked-off on Monday evening when the Limerick team arrived in Wexford. The Blues turned up as per usual before the game, and requested to train on the main pitch in Ferrycarrig Park, something that only one team, Derry City, has done this season, and that only transpired due to the fact it was the League Cup Final. Wexford Youths do not warm-up on the pitch before a game.
Limerick were offered the use of the back pitches where teams would normally warm-up, but refused on the grounds of health and safety.
At 7:20pm, Mick Wallace decided to allow Limerick to warm-up on the main pitch in the interest of getting the game played, but Limerick allegedly refused this offer as it was too late, and went home on the coach back to Limerick.
Wexford Youths boss Mick Wallace spoke to extratime.ie afterwards and explained the situation as he saw it.
"This is a total joke and an event like this puts the game into disrepute," Wallace said. "No other team this season has had a problem with this warm-up setup and no other team bar Derry City have warmed-up on the main pitch, including ourselves.
"At twenty past seven, I said they could use the main pitch but they said it was too late and they went home on the bus.
"It's a real shame too, as there was a big crowd here to watch the game despite the bad weather.
"It does appear that Limerick did not want to play the game. We had noted that it was strange that two of their better players, Gary Sheehan and John Tierney, were not in the starting eleven for some reason. Maybe there was problems that we didn't know about."
Limerick then issued a statement last night before today's latest developments. It read in full:
Limerick 37 would like to confirm that prior to their rescheduled match with Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park this evening, Monday October 6th the team were informed that they would be unable to carry out their pre match warm up on the main playing surface.
As the alternative warm up area suggested was deemed unsafe for health and safety reasons due to poor lighting, Limerick 37 made a request to warm up on the main playing surface to the match referee. The match referee confirmed he had absolutely no issue with the team warming up on the main playing surface.
Despite this assurance from the referee the Wexford Youths stewards refused access to the pitch to the Limerick FC players and management. Limerick 37 were therefore left with no choice but to refuse to carry out the fixture as they were not afforded the opportunity to complete the pre match warm up which is a vital element in ensuring player welfare. It is extremely disappointing for all concerned with the club especially considering the majority of our squad are semi professional and had to take half days from work in order to make themselves available for the fixture.
Extratime.ie will bring you more on this as we get it.
