Galway United football club won their appeal to stay in the Airtricity Premier Division for another season. They had previously been demoted to the A Championship following them missing a deadline over club papers and tax certs. The FAI considered their case from a proccess that started at 8 AM last Friday and it was announced later that day.
There were Exceptional circumstances for them missing the deadline so they can now play in the Top division this season. It's hard luck on Monahagen United who thought they were going up in place of Galway United this season.
Football Association of Ireland statement taken from www.rte.ie/sport
'The Independent Club Licensing Appeals Body met this morning to consider Galway United's appeal of the decision of the Independent Club Licensing Committee not to award the club a Premier Division Licence.
'The Appeals Body noted that it is essential to good governance in football that all required documentation is supplied by its due date and in this particular case, they recognise that the onus was on the club to produce the appropriate evidence to the Club Licensing Committee.
'The Appeals Body acknowledge that the tax affairs of the club were and are in order and it was clear that the club had made attempts to secure the appropriate documentation but due to exceptional events were unable to provide it on the date required.
'Given the full circumstances that pertain to this case, the Appeals Body overturned the decision of the Club Licensing Committee and awarded a League Licence - Premier Division to Galway United F