Courts / Westmeath / Report

Athlone Town players secure injunction over FAI's plan to introduce new evidence in match fixing appeal

Date
2017-12-13
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

Two professional footballers suspended for twelve months following a match-fixing investigation have secured temporary High Court injunctions preventing the Football Association of Ireland from introducing new evidence during their appeal hearing. Igor Labuts, a goalkeeper, and midfielder Dragos Sfrijan, both formerly of Athlone Town AFC in the League of Ireland First Division, were found guilty in September of deliberate actions to manipulate match results arising from a game against Longford Town in April. The players deny wrongdoing and claim the new evidence is prejudicial, was not disclosed at the original disciplinary hearing, and breaches natural justice principles. The FAI maintains it is entitled under its own rules to introduce the material at the appeal, scheduled for December twenty-first. Justice Caroline Costello granted interim injunctions on Wednesday at the High Court. The case has been adjourned to the following week.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Athlone Town players secure injunction over FAI's plan to introduce new evidence in match fixing appeal. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: Last September the players, who deny any wrongdoing, were found by a FAI Disciplinary Committee to have to be guilty of deliberate actions in order to manipulate the result of a match, and were given 12 months suspensions from any football activities. CNI source report

Case subjects

Athlone Town

Appellant

Outcome: They have appealed the findings against them, and the hearing of the appeal has been adjourned from time to time.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • High Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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