IGORS LABUTS AND Dragos Sfrijan, the two Athlone Town players accused of match-fixing, have launched legal proceedings against the Football Association of Ireland, it has been confirmed.

“I can say on the record that we have told the FAI we will be seeking an injunction (to stop the FAI from adducing additional evidence). We will be applying for that in the next day or two,” a spokesperson for the duo told The42.

Back in September, an Independent Disciplinary Committee found the two players guilty of breaching FAI rules.

The duo, who have appealed against the findings, were deemed to have breached the following offences.

• Rule 99: Bringing the Game into Disrepute
• Rule 105: Manipulating Matches
• Rule 106: Betting / Gambling

The pair were consequently banned from all football-related activities for 12 months, but are now seeking to clear their names.

The ruling was made after an investigation was launched following irregular betting patterns into the conduct of Athlone Town AFC during their clash with Longford on 29 April, while it was subsequently announced that the FAI were looking into two additional games featuring the embattled club.

At the time, the FAI’s verdict was heavily criticised by the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland, calling the ruling “outrageous” and claiming it was based on “half-baked innuendo”.

Athlone, meanwhile, criticised the “flawed and unfair” match-fixing probe.

The FAI have been approached for comment.

Additional reporting by Sinead O’Carroll

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