Finn Harps vow to fight their case after ineligible player ruling

Finn Harps have vowed to appeal a decision that ruled Gavin Hodgins ineligible to play in the opening First Division game of this season.

Hodgins, who was recruited from Shelbourne in the off-season, was deemed to have been ineligible for a game that Harps lost 2-1 at Mounthawk Park on February 14.

A Kerry player, Stevan Stanic-Floody, was also ruled as ineligible from the same fixture and the League of Ireland has annulled the fixture, meaning that the result is void and neither team will receive any points.

Harps, however, feel they have been harshly treated in this instance and in a statement said they were “extremely disappointed” in the ruling, contesting that they have done nothing wrong administratively.

A paltry fine - just €1 - was also set down on Harps by the independent disciplinary committee involved in the case, something that Harps believe outlines that they have a strong case.

The discrepancy over Hodgins arises from an international clearance certificate (ITC) that seemingly was not obtained by Shelbourne upon the players return to Tolka Park from a six-month loan at Glenavon.

Hodgins played 12 times and scored one goal for Glenavon during his loan at Mourneview Park in the first six months of 2024.

After going back to Shels, Hodgins featured for the club’s under-20 team, who went on to win the U20 Shield - with Hodgins playing in the final against Sligo Rovers - and finished top of the LOI Academy MU20 Tier Two (South). 

The League of Ireland has not confirmed what sanctions have been imposed on Shelbourne under-20s for any fixtures that featured Hodgins.

“It is entirely unreasonable that any club involved in a domestic transfer would have to check a players entire transfer history in case any previous club has made an error,” Harps have said. 

An appeal to the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) costs €500 - and Harps intend to pursue their case.

“The precedent set in this ruling would lead to multiple clubs all being punished for an error by a single player’s previous club. This could have a significant impact on the competitive integrity of leagues across the country.”

Since the Kerry-Harps game, an ITC was processed for the player, but this seems to have been applied for by the League or another club as Harps are understood to have had no knowledge of an application.

Harps are particularly aggrieved at being sanctioned given that their own processing of Hodgins’ transfer was above board. 

Hodgins was an active player on the Comet system used by clubs - something that has to be approved by someone centrally upon receipt of a transfer or registration request.

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Wexford FC were also deemed to have fielded an ineligible player, Darragh Dunne, in their fixture against UCD on the same date and UCD have been awarded a 3-0 win.