One player, one club rule adopted as IFA AGM comes to Fermanagh

Published 25 Jun 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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The FIFA rule that dictates that players will only be able to play for one club was formally adopted at the IFA AGM at the Killyhevlin Hotel on Monday night, the first time ever the AGM was held in Fermanagh.

The ruling, which will come into effect at the start of the season, will have repercussions for some local clubs as players will now be tied to only one club. For example, if a player is signed to Ballinamallard United he will then not be able to also play Fermanagh and Western football for another club. A number of local sides have had the fortune of being able to strengthen their side by calling in, when available, players from intermediate clubs like the Mallards who they have signed on Fermanagh and Western forms.

There is sure to be some teething problems for the ruling and for the forseeable future there will be no central registration for junior players because the current system would not be able to cope with the sheer volume of information.

However, IFA Treasurer, and Fermanagh and Western Association secretary, Neil Jardine feels that for the best part it will be self-policed.

'It would be quite hard for a player to play for say Ballinamallard and then turn out for a Fermanagh and Western club because of the simple fact that most people would know who he is so in that respect it would be self-policed,' he said.

The ruling will also affect some levels of youth football whereby a player who competes for Ballinamallard Youth in the Irish Youth League would only be able to play for the Mallards and not go and play for their local team in the Fermanagh and Western as many would have done in the past. It will therefore force players into a decision of who they want to play for.

There was also a ruling passed on Monday night that players can register for up to three clubs in a season but can only play for two.

However, the one player, one club rule may not come into play with regards the BKYL, with Jardine explaining: 'Youth football is slightly different as it is only partially affiliated to the IFA and there is a loan facility available in youth football.'

This is something that BKYL secretary David McQuigg is also led to believe.

'I was told by Gerry McKee (NIBFA secretary) that he felt that as the BKYL was a summer league it would have a special dispensation and that players would be able to go on loan to other clubs to play in the likes of the Mid Ulster league as long as the competitions did not clash,' he said.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 25 Jun 09

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