The FAI have hit back at Kerry FC following the club's statement yesterday in relation to a points deduction from their opening game of the season.
The governing body announced this week that Kerry's 2-0 victory over Finn Harps would not stand as the Kingdom fielded an ineligible player.
FAI statement............
The FAI would like to clarify several inaccuracies contained within Kerry FC’s statement that was issued yesterday.
Disciplinary Proceedings
The Independent Disciplinary Committee convened on 11 March 2025 to address several disciplinary matters, including the eligibility of a Kerry FC player.
Due to the complex nature of this matter, which related to the eligibility of two players on opposition teams in the same fixture, the Independent Disciplinary Committee believed it was necessary to engage in detailed discussions before hearing Kerry FC’s submissions. While these discussions were ongoing Kerry FC were regularly updated by an FAI representative.
Kerry FC subsequently informed an FAI representative that they would not participate in the disciplinary hearing. At the request of the Independent Disciplinary Committee, an FAI representative spoke to Kerry FC on multiple occasions to offer further opportunities to attend the disciplinary hearing, but these offers were declined.
Second Disciplinary Hearing on 27 March 2025
The purpose of this disciplinary hearing was to allow Kerry FC make representations on their views on the appropriate sanction specifically, whether to annul the result of the game or replay the fixture. This hearing was notified to Kerry FC two weeks in advance and was not arranged at Kerry FC’s request.
During the hearing, a Kerry FC representative was asked twice by the Legal Chair of the Independent Disciplinary Committee whether they had any concerns about the fairness of the disciplinary process and they explicitly confirmed they did not, directly contradicting their public statement.
Independent Disciplinary Committee
Any suggestion that the Independent Disciplinary Committee failed to attend a disciplinary hearing or that Kerry FC were denied due process is entirely false. The FAI strongly rejects Kerry FC’s claims of being "bullied into silence" or subjected to any intimidation. The Independent Disciplinary Committee thoroughly examined the matter and made a decision in accordance with the FAI Disciplinary Regulations.
