Suspension of seven referees hits plans for new Mayo season
BY TOM KELLY
Preparations for the start of the new soccer season in Mayo, which kicks of on April 8th, are severely hit by the announcement that seven members of the county's Soccer Referees Society have been suspended by the Football Association of Ireland.
The seven, Martin Roughneen, Jimmy Blake, John Roughneen, Michael Cresham, Harry Loftus, Thomas Howley and Hughie Rooney, were informed of the decision by registered letter on Thursday.The action was taken by the F.A.I. following a High Court decision which awarded two former National League of Ireland referees £40,000 each. The two referees were removed from the league panel after failing the fitness examination at their annual seminar.
In a knee-jerk reaction to the High Court decision, the F.A.I. suspended a total of 144 referees countrywide because they had failed to meet the fitness requirements at their respective annual seminars. Mayo was one of the hardest hit leagues with a total of seven removed from the panel. Four referees were suspended in Galway, and two in Roscommon. Every member of the Sligo Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society had met the fitness demands.
Members of the Mayo League's management committee were meeting last night to consider the implications of the decision. There had already been a serious shortage of referees in the county without seven officials being put out of the game. Unless the position is resolved over the coming weeks, there is no doubt it will have serious implications as far as the new soccer season in Mayo is concerned.
It will mean that the programme of fixtures will be split between Saturday and Sunday because of the lack of referees to officiate games. It could even mean a return to midweek fixtures, even through the majority of clubs are opposed to them.
John Corless, fixtures secretary, Mayo League, said the problems relating to the shortage of referees was bad enough without the added blow of seven being removed from the panel.
One of the seven referees, Jimmy Blake, stated he was disappointed by the decision. So much so, in fact, he was retiring from the game completely. He did not rule out the prospect of taking legal action against the F.A.I.
The annual seminar for West of Ireland referees is not due to take place
until June 22nd, and it appears the seven Mayo referees will not have the
opportunity of being restored to the panel until then.
Connaught Telegraph - News - February 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - February 1996
