At this stage of the process Wexford FC would like to inform all the clubs’ stakeholders and the football community of our feeling of disappointment and frustration at the Football Association of Ireland’s ruling against our club regarding the alleged playing of an ineligible player in our opening game of the 2025 season v. UCD and at the punishment received.
It has been demonstrated that the system used for player registration (FAI Comet System) for the League of Ireland is not failsafe and has no default mechanism when the information is wrong in the system itself.
Wexford has diligently followed every procedure and guideline set by the League of Ireland and the FAI Comet system. Our player in question was active on the Comet system from the 22nd of January and eligible to play from that date. This gave a more than adequate time period before the season kick-off date on the 14th of February.
It is important for all our stakeholders to understand that the information on the system used for the registration of players cannot be changed by a club registrar, apart from the players personal details, the rest of the information is in the database on the system controlled by an FAI administrator. This information on his last club was incorrect. The club were made aware of this after our first game.
Wexford FC were invited to a hearing on March 11th and advised the committee of the system error, the gap between the player being eligible on the system and the season start. At no time in the process were Wexford FC not being honest and clear on the information forwarded.
The club appealed the original decision on Monday, March 24, and again highlighted the club’s stance on the players eligibility, highlighting vehemently that the system error showed the players last club as incorrect and could not be manually changed.
In summary, the FAI now claims that an error has occurred, but insists that the fault is not theirs and the onus lies with the club, by forfeiting the game versus UCD and the massive goal difference that goes with it. Wexford FC believe this decision to be unfair and unjust.
We now have a situation where other clubs are in the same or similar situation to Wexford FC which must demonstrate clearly what the common denominator is, the system database that is the engine for driving the registration process that is being used by the FAI across all football tiers of the game.
Wexford FC are active and firmly believe in the rules and guidelines set out by our governing bodies and follow these as best possible to promote the integrity of our game.
However, In the case of normal justice and rectifying the real root cause of the issue, Wexford FC will now seek professional advice on the next steps to protect the club’s stakeholders and in the belief of fair play.
–Ends–
