FAI chief executive, John Delaney, has branded Limerick as “naïveâ€, as their hopes of staging a friendly against football giants Barcelona have been destroyed.
Delaney confirmed that he could not authorise the fixture as a third-party agency controls the organising of friendly matches in Ireland. Delaney spoke of Limerick’s naïve nature surrounding the proposed fixture on the Marian Finucane programme yesterday.
“We would have a relationship (with an agency) in terms of the organisation of friendlies coming into Ireland.
“There are certain games we can grant and there are certain games we can’t in terms of attendance figures.
“I think Limerick have acted very naively in the whole situation.
“Noel Mooney (FAI official) spoke to the owner of Limerick on Friday and explained that we couldn’t grant the game.
“We’re contractually obliged to other people. I would love the game to be played in Limerick,†Delaney commented.
Delaney continued to refute Limerick’s attempts of hosting the match, citing financial issues as the primary reason.
“It is too late. It ultimately comes down to that (money).
“Also it is that if you are put in a position and it is accepted by the club and they say that is fine and we’ll see you Wednesday… and then you behave in the manner that they have done, you are bringing the game into disrepute a bit, around the time of the opening of the stadium as well.
“Statements coming out on Thursday night and issuing legal letters on Friday morning was done in poor taste. Naïve,†said Delaney.
