The FAI announced yesterday, that after guidance from the government, they are unable to allow the return of underage elite football despite moving to level three.
When level five restrictions were initially announced, elite underage teams were granted the ability to continue to play their games. However this was eventually rescinded, most likely due to restricting inter county travel. Elite adult teams fixtures were honored with Shamrock Rovers eventually crowned League of Ireland Champions and Peamount United Womens National League Champions.
Training at both amateur and elite level was still permissible at youth level, unlike amateur adult teams. With this in mind players kept up there fitness across the country and non more so then our elite team representing Carlow and Kilkenny.
Carlow Kilkenny FC have been going from strength to strength even going as far as adding new teams to their set up. . However this announcement will come as a huge blow to all staff and players. The team’s were eagerly anticipating the return to action this weekend have now once again had their hopes dashed. Below is a tweet from Carlow Kilkenny u17 Ladies manager Gemma Murphy outlining her upset over the whole situation :
Im disgusted with the FAIs decision. These players worked so hard and to have it all scrapped with a handful of games to go is disgraceful. As usual it’s the kids suffering. I’ve had a great great year with this group, I enjoyed every min of it. They deserved a better ending! pic.twitter.com/TtvjrG7NDK
— Gemma Murphy (@gemma_002) December 3, 2020
Players and parents alike are becoming angsty about the situation and have set up a petition to allow schoolboys and girls to play, one in which you can sign right here.
PRO of Carlow Kilkenny FC Paul Brophy will be on KCLR Scoreline this Saturday from 4.30 PM.
Full quote from the FAI –
The Football Association of Ireland is disappointed to inform its players, coaches, parents/guardians, volunteers and supporters that the return of all underage National League matches for boys and girls from Under-13 to Under-19 level, beginning this weekend, has been cancelled on the guidance of Government.
The Association had felt that the broader new Level 3 COVID-19 guidelines issued by Government would allow for the resumption of elite Underage football as it had done before the Level 5 lockdown but it has been made clear to us that this is not the case.
The FAI regrets the need to have to issue this directive given Irish football’s widespread adherence to the guidelines to date and the negligible number of COVID-19 cases within our underage National Leagues and grassroots games that are run with great efficiency and care by our loyal administrators, volunteers and employees.
We are now asking all parties to review the next steps necessary to facilitate a safe return to playing matches for all our players and clubs across all levels – elite football, adult amateur and underage – at the earliest opportunity. We remain committed to working with our partners to allow for the return of competitive football for all ages and all levels of the game as soon as it is possible in this COVID-19 pandemic.
The FAI will always respect the prevailing government’s COVID-19 guidelines in place at any given time. We assure Government that football will abide by these Level 3 guidelines and reminds all affiliates of our responsibility in this regard.
Adult amateur and underage clubs are reminded that they can train outdoors, non-contact in pods of 15 with one coach minimum per adult team and two for underage teams, as per the FAI Safer Return to Training Protocol and Level 3 Government guidelines.
