A Tale of Two Suspensions

By John Craddock, 2007

Shane Long was an unused substitute in Ireland’s match against Slovakia last September. It turns out that he was suspended for that game as a result of his being sent off against Turkey in an under 19s game in May 2006. Suspensions from this level carry over into under 21s games but not senior internationals. However, when a player is suspended from an under 21s game, he is automatically suspended from playing a senior international within 24 hours of the underage game. So, because Shane Long was suspended from playing for Ireland under 21s against Portugal the night before the senior match, he was automatically suspended from the senior game against Slovakia.

When this issue came to light, the FAI appealed for leniency from UEFA because of the complicated nature of the rules and, importantly, because the FAI had asked UEFA if Long was suspended and were wrongly told that he was not. Since the mistake was largely on UEFA’s part, the FAI was let away with a fine and an increase in Long’s suspension, a reduced punishment from the potential to deduct Ireland points from our European Championship qualification group.

It is interesting to compare this to the situation last year where the boot was on the other foot. During last season the eircom league, which is now a part of the FAI, failed to inform Shamrock Rovers that Paul Shiels was suspended for a game against Dundalk in July 2006 and informed Bohs three times (once by email and twice by telephone) that Jason McGuinness was not suspended for a game against Shelbourne around the same time. Both players played these games and both clubs were deducted three league points. The FAI was required to adjudicate both of these cases and concluded that the points deductions should stand as it is the responsibility of the clubs to be aware of player suspensions and not the responsibility of the governing authority to correctly inform them.

It is an impressive ability to hold two contradictory opinions and believe strongly in both of them.