Bohs appeal outsmarts League - January 3, 2001
Bohemians made good their threat last night of refusing to turn up for an Eircom League premier fixture against St. Pat's - but neatly sidestepped any censure from the League by lodging an appeal to the FAI!
League bosses refixed Bohs' postponed meeting with the Saints for last night - but the Gypsies were adamant that they would not turn up at Richmond Park, claiming a prior fixture against Ashtown Villa in the Leinster Senior Cup at Dalymount.
The League responded by claiming that league fixtures take precedence over LSC matches and warning Bohs that they would be punished for failing to play Pat's. But Bohs outsmarted them by appealing the refixture to the FAI on the grounds that it contravened League rules.
That appeal must be heard within the next fourteen days - and it left the League with no option but to cancel last night's game.
League secretary Donal Crowther said: "Pending the hearing of the appeal, it is with regret that the League has no option but to postpone the fixture."
That left Bohemians free to play Ashtown Villa. The Gypsies fielded a weakened team and eventually won through on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
More importantly though, the match served to purge Kevin Hunt and Alex Nesovic of their one-match bans and wiped out half of Stephen Caffrey's two-match suspension!