Waterford United informed of shock 3-0 win award

Waterford United FC believe that they will be awarded a 3-0 win over Athlone Town due to the midlanders fielding an ineligible player when the sides met at the RSC on 3 October last. The game finished scoreless, however, Waterford could now be given an unlikely lifeline in their promotion bid, which suffered a massive blow on Friday night following a 5-1 mauling at the hands of Limerick 37.

It was prior to that meeting at Jackman Park that news filtered through that Waterford would gain an extra two points due to Athlone's reported breach of rules. The Blues’ management team and playing squad were informed of this before kick-off, however, where exactly this news came from is unknown at this stage.

In the aftermath of their defeat to the Shannonsiders, Waterford manager Gareth Cronin lambasted his players and was upset that his team were unable to raise their game for a match which he stated would have sent the Blues top of the League of Ireland First Division table had they won.

Waterford Local Radio, who covered the game live and who constantly carried news of the extra points award throughout the match, also said that the club would move up to 60 points (from their current tally of 58) before the visit of joint leaders Dundalk next weekend.

In such a scenario, which is nothing new to the League of Ireland, the precedent states that the club which fielded the ineligible player would be deducted three points but that the result would remain the same and the opposition would gain nothing. Whether or not Athlone did indeed field an ineligible player has yet to be confirmed, but they too would have to be punished with a points deduction for doing so.

Two years ago, Shamrock Rovers were at the centre of a similar controversy after they played Paul Shiels in a key First Division clash with Dundalk. The game ended 0-0, but the Hoops were later deducted three points by the powers that be. They eventually won the league by a single point from the Lilywhites, but if Dundalk had benefited then as Waterford believe they will do now, the Louth club would have won the title.

Also in 2006, Bohemians were deducted three points for illegally playing Jason McGuinness in a Premier Division fixture with Shelbourne. Bohs won the game 2-1 but were later punished for fielding the defender. Then Shels chief executive Ollie Byrne subsequently challenged the league as he believed that his club should have been awarded the three points or, at the very least, a replay. The challenge was thrown out, however, that ruling mattered little in the end as Shels secured the title on goal difference from Derry City.

For Waterford, however, this could represent a last chance to re-enter the promotion race after falling to damaging 3-1 (to Sporting Fingal) and 5-1 (to Limerick) defeats in the last eight days. Extratime.ie will bring you more on this story as we get it.