NIFL's decision making process was 'fatally flawed' says PSNI FC as they lodge appeal papers

The Championship club have formally lodged appeal papers with the Irish FA following the decision to automatically relegate them after the season was curtailed and a mathematical formula was applied to decide the final standings.

In a statement the club said they felt no team would be "disadvantaged" in the decision making process.

The statement read: "In these unprecedented times it was believed that common sense and natural fairness would prevail and that no team would be disadvantaged in the decision making process.

"At the heart of our appeal is Sporting Integrity.

"Why should the PSNI FC (or any other team) be automatically relegated due to a mathematical model that does not take into account who we are due to play, home and away, and of our previous record against such teams?

"We have eight more games to play. A maximum of 24 points up for grabs. Seven of those games are against teams in the bottom half of the Championship, most of whom we have already recorded victories during the season.

"We believe the decision making process was fatally flawed and NIFL, in coming to the decision they did, did not consider sporting integrity.

"No explanation has been offered as to why the proposal from the Premiership Management Committee to have no relegation was not approved. Rumours abound about UEFA rules, IFA rules, but we have not been provided with an explanation.

"We agree that in the current uncertain times flexibility in implementing the rules is required. Such flexibility should not disadvantage any team.

"Why not have two teams promoted from the Premier Intermediate League (PIL) and the Championship with no relegation?

"Such a scenario would mean 14 Premiership Teams, 12 Championship Teams and 9 PIL Teams.

"The PIL teams could play each other 3 or 4 times in the new season. The Premiership could have a model that reflects the new shortened season plus gives smaller clubs an opportunity to reach Premiership status, if only for one season.

"At the end of next season two or three clubs may be relegated from the Premiership to return to the 12, 12, 12 model.

"The appeal from the PSNI FC lists 17 areas where we believe NIFL was wrong in law, procedure, good practice and sporting integrity.

"It all can be sorted out now without appeals if NIFL Board implemented sporting integrity."

The NIFL Board confirmed on Friday following “all reasonable and proportionate steps to ensure the fairest and most appropriate outcome is reached” the results of a mathematical model implemented to finalise standings across the three Irish League divisions within a season disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Institute announced an appeal to the Irish FA against automatic relegation from the Danske Bank Premiership, citing via a club statement “the failure of the NIFL Board to implement a ‘least harm’ solution”.

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