Justification Behind the New FAI Club Licensing System - Case Study Example

Sports Economics: Critically evaluate the justification behind the new FAI Club licensing system Word Count 522 words Introduction FAI or Football Association of Ireland was born out of different complicated situations with other football clubs in Ireland. Although football has been played in Ireland since the 1860's but the game spread in other areas only in the 1880's, and the Dublin Association Football Club was the first outside Ulster where Football was mainly played. During this time, the Irish Football Association based in Belfast was the governing body. Based on the study regarding the history of football clubs, they found it difficult to promote football throughout the country, thus, the formation of Leinster Football Association was formed in 1892. (FAI) The history also cited about the growth of the football clubs, among them was the Ulster based Protestant Clubs which later found to have clamored especially when selecting sides for international matches. This had led to the rising of nationalism in 1916 that had pushed the Southern affiliates to take an aggressive approach in their dealings with IFA.(FAI) During this time also, there was always a threat of breakaways of member clubs which created crisis with in the IFA interfere in the final game of two teams in favor of another football club. This conflict led to the formation of football association of the Irish Free State in the meeting of Southern Association Clubs in 1921 in Molesworth in Dublin. This was apparently to prevent the break ups of the different football clubs. Nevertheless, it did not help improve the situation and FAIFS were blacklisted by all the Home Nations Associations.(FAI) But anyhow, the FAI and the League of Ireland has merged forming a new national football league system which is now the FAI Eircom League of Ireland. This new system has ended the 1921 inaugurated administration system run by the league of clubs and replaced it with a new system under the management of FAI, which created their own management system in the promotion of matches as well as in granting of specific licenses. This paper therefore aims to evaluate this new licensing system under FAI Eircom League.(FAI) Brief Summary of the FAI Eircom New System of Management and Licensing Under the FAI Eircom League system, the league contains 22 clubs and is split into two divisions. The premier division consists of twelve teams, and the FAI first division consists of ten teams. These teams were formerly playing under the old league which was invited to play but they first have to undergo an independent assessment on the following: criteria, the scoring and the detailed breakdown notes, as discussed in the Wikipedia. The criteria involves the 2002/03 - 2005 seasons, the 2006 seasons, infrastructure, governance and finance, sustainability, benchmarking, youth and development, and strategic planning. Target markets which items with corresponding scores of 30%, 20%, 10%, 15%, 15%, 10% respectively. Those first twelve teams who got high percentages on scoring and on the detailed analysis for each of the criteria attains an A license and therefore will be in premiere division. While the remainder gets the B license and will compose the FAI First Division. As the FAI Eircom League Independent Assessment reports, "the 21 clubs which took part in the process were ranked on the basis of points scored as a result of their achievements over the past five seasons on the pitch and they measured up against specific criteria."(Wikipedia) The Licensing system Participation in the FAI Eircom League was subject to "granting of specific participation licenses," as emphasized in the rules of licensing of FAI. Those who attains the A license participates in premiere division, while those who gets the B license play in FAI first division. According to UEFA, this license to participation is "an attempt to maintain a consistent standard of quality as well as promote development." There are also rules that clubs must sign in order to receive participation license. Critical Evaluation of the Justification behind FAI Club Licensing System In the first analysis, the process by which the Football Clubs who wished to play in the Premiere division league is quite fair and just, for acceptance is based on performance and on the consistency and quality of the game played on specific seasons given as well as their ratings on other criteria such as: infrastructure, governance and finance, sustainability, youth development and planning, etc. These criteria provide every clubs a level playing field to be able to attain their goals of getting into the prime league. The merit is gained through the talent, unity and cooperation, effective management and vision for youth and infrastructure development. A standard can be justly displayed as brand of quality. High ratings on points may be good enough to attain A license for no teams can get high ratings on points without the combination of talent, skills and team unity among players and management. But then, the standard of quality may not be complete if the other criteria will be taken for granted. As someone has said, "what good is it of a skilled carpenter if he cannot even fixed his own house."(quotable quotes) The point is that the ratings on other criteria is helping the participating clubs to align themselves towards a more community development oriented motivations as well as the development of values that benefit the society, thereby reducing subjective interests or the interests that benefit only the participating clubs. Another area which further brings benefits and training to the community, is the "further promotion of, and continuing priority given to the training and care of young players in each club, safeguarding the continuity of the international competition"(UEFA) This provides opportunity for young people to excel in the field of sports inspired by benefits of the training that the association provides. On the other hands, the participation agreement which requires signing of contract based on contractual principles defines the responsibilities, limitations and all the legal matters pertaining to possible disputes or any related cases. The rule says, "In the event that the a dispute arises, the process to be followed will be clear and in accordance with FAI rules 28-29, which covers the areas of arbitration."(Wikipedia) This is a fair policy for it shows that FAI Eircom is highly organized and headed towards a quality management of the league. It also means that they have significantly improved in management systems which in the past years the association were plagued by intrigues, breaking ups of different clubs, blacklisting and other forms of grievances and complaints. On the negative side, one team has withdrawn membership in the premiere division while another who were supposed to deserve, were not granted A license which eventually lead to the end of its involvement in the league. Despite of the improved policies which are sincerely aimed towards development of Football League in Ireland, and to maximize its impact on economic, social and infrastructure development, there seemed to have a ground by which seeds of disputes and complaints can grow to become a potential problem. As evidence by the withdrawal of Dublin City from the league of Ireland Premiere division of the 2006 season and the case of Limerick whose involvement with the league came to an end after they appeared the decision not granting them an A license. Another problem seen is in the policy stated in Rules of the Association. It says, "the association has the power at any time to make inquiries into the working of such affiliates and to deal with same as it thinks fit provided that all proper procedures are duly followed." This sounds manipulating and controlling which gives ready access or right to interfere in internal matters of a club. This ground for the seeds of possible disputes and conflicts seem to be the exclusive management of FAI. The rules say, "In the event that a dispute arises, the process to be followed will be clear and in accordance with FAI Rules 28 and 29, which cover the areas of appeals and arbitration. It is quite clear that all matters of disputes and conflicts are to be resolved with in the scope of FAI Rules and guidelines. It appears that the two cases mentioned were unsuccessfully resolved. Somehow, it reveals the weakness of the FAI Licensing system to provide a clear policies and guidelines that would have avoided the disputes. Conclusion The FAI has indeed undergone series of reformation before it finally become what it is now. But this series of constant realigning has definitely helped to be able to come up with a strong management and a sound policies and guidelines towards fulfilling its goals and commitments. Although, there were still some issues that was not resolved such as the case of Dublin City and Limerick, but they can be considered as a minor problem or issue. The FAI Eircom Licensing System is a policy that must have been carefully studied out of the experiences of the past and was formed as national guidelines of the football sports of Ireland. Indeed, it provided a good option to every football clubs who would not be able to make it into the premiere league. Work Cited "FAI History" FAI Official Website. http://www.fai.ie/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=47 "FAI League of Ireland" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.widipedia.org/wiki/FAI_National_League Rules of Association" Football Association of Ireland http://carlowsoccer.com/FAI%r20rule%20books.doc UEFA Club Licensing http://www.irishfa.com/domestic-football/uefa-club-licensing/ Read More