IRISH LEAGUE: Institute to face Ballinamallard United in play-off

Institute look set face Ballinamallard United in a promotion play-off after Carrick Rangers escaped any punishment over manager Gary Haveron's touchline ban.
Carrick Rangers manager Gary Haveron. Picture by Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker PressCarrick Rangers manager Gary Haveron. Picture by Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker Press
Carrick Rangers manager Gary Haveron. Picture by Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker Press

Carrick were in the dock over a what the IFA described as a breach of Article 23.1 of its Disciplinary Code.

The charge related to Haveron’s presence on the touchline during the club’s victory against Dungannon Swifts on April 23.

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The sanction for such an offence is a minimum fine of £350 and forfeiture of the match on a 3-0 scoreline. That would have seen Carrick deducted three points which would have left them bottom of the Premiership and automatically down.

But following an IFA hearing on Wednesday night it was confirmed that the Gers would remain in the top flight.

In a statement, the IFA said members of the Discipline Committee found “that the interests of justice were best served by not imposing a sanction in all the circumstances”.

The statement added that the Disciplinary Committee took into account what it found to be the ‘honest intention’ of the club to serve a suspension, and the fact that three matches had been served. The Committee also noted the points made regarding possible confusion in the way in which the suspension was to be implemented.

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The decision confirms Warrenpoint Town’s relegation from the Premiership, with the second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off between Ballinamallard and Institute set to be rescheduled – the Mallards lead 2-1 following the first leg at Drumahoe.

However with virtually all the Stute players away in Benidorm that rescheduled date still has to be finalised.