Advertisement
General view of Lissywollen, Athlone Town Stadium (file pic). James Crombie/INPHO
case

Athlone duo accused of match-fixing launch legal proceedings against FAI

Igors Labuts and Dragos Sfrijan were previously banned from all football-related activities for 12 months.

IGORS LABUTS AND Dragos Sfrijan, the two Athlone Town players accused of match-fixing, have launched legal proceedings against the Football Association of Ireland, it has been confirmed.

“I can say on the record that we have told the FAI we will be seeking an injunction (to stop the FAI from adducing additional evidence). We will be applying for that in the next day or two,” a spokesperson for the duo told The42.

Back in September, an Independent Disciplinary Committee found the two players guilty of breaching FAI rules.

The duo, who have appealed against the findings, were deemed to have breached the following offences.

  • Rule 99: Bringing the Game into Disrepute
  • Rule 105: Manipulating Matches
  • Rule 106: Betting / Gambling

The pair were consequently banned from all football-related activities for 12 months, but are now seeking to clear their names.

The ruling was made after an investigation was launched following irregular betting patterns into the conduct of Athlone Town AFC during their clash with Longford on 29 April, while it was subsequently announced that the FAI were looking into two additional games featuring the embattled club.

At the time, the FAI’s verdict was heavily criticised by the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland, calling the ruling “outrageous” and claiming it was based on “half-baked innuendo”.

Athlone, meanwhile, criticised the “flawed and unfair” match-fixing probe.

The FAI have been approached for comment.

Additional reporting by Sinead O’Carroll

Comments are disabled as legal proceedings are active. 

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

‘This team has character’: Conte backing Chelsea to bounce back despite title concession>

Is the Premier League title race over?>