Elite Underage Football Season Cancelled

Following on from Tuesday night’s announcement that all schoolboy and amateur football clubs can return to non-contact training in pods of 15, the underage elite season has been indefinitely cancelled on Government advice.

All Airtricity League underage teams have not played for the past 6 weeks due to the country entering Level 5 restrictions. On the official FAI website, the statement read;

“The Football Association of Ireland is disappointed to inform its players, coaches, parents/guardians, volunteers and supporters that the return of all underage National League matches for boys and girls from under-13 to u-19 level, beginning this weekend, has been cancelled on the guidance of Government.”

The FAI stated that they were disappointed with the news as they had been under the impression that underage elite football would return under level 3 restrictions.

“The FAI regrets the need to have to issue this directive given Irish football’s widespread adherence to the guidelines to date and the negligible number of COVID-19 cases within our underage National League and grassroots games that are run with great efficiency and care.”

Following on from this , the FAI stated their intent to continue to abide by the guidelines laid out by the Government and hope to see the return of competitive action in the near future.

The news will come as a disappointment to Treaty United and manager Irene Hehir, who were competing in the u-17’s Girls League.