RIADA Soccer School's under-11s, who have been busy preparing for the final, could be cruely made to replay their Northern Ireland Boys Cup semi-final, it's been announced.
The devastating news has rocked the Ballymoney club, officials of which feel extremely hard done by in the matter.
It all stems from a decision by the independent referee in the semi against Aquinas two weeks ago.
He gave Riada a penalty for ha
ndball in the box with four minutes left to play. The cool Riada kid, Brad Lyons, stepped up and converted the penalty to send the match into extra-time.
Riada then went on to score twice more to win the tie 3-1, prompting scenes of jubilation among the local lads, obviously delighted to have made it through to the final of the biggest competition in their season.
However, men in suits seem intent on making them take their place in the final the hard way and have insisted that the game be replayed on the grounds that the referee's decision to award the penalty was wrong.
However a Riada supporter said: "If they overturn that then we will be left with a total farce.
"Surely the referee's decision must be final. If we are forced to play this game again then I would urge all coaches to examine their matches and appeal any decision that might have cost their side.
"It's madness! Our boys have had by far the hardest run of any team in this competition and yet they have made it to the final against all odds.
"They have been magnificent again this season and could yet be denied their place in this final through no fault of their own. It's heartbreaking for them."
"Gerry McKee, secretary of the Northern Ireland Boys FA, was present at the semi-final and didn't raise any objections to the result. The referee was not chosen by either club, and we also had two independent linesmen and a referee's assessor!
"Why did none of them feel fit to challenge the penalty decision there and then? Instead they have allowed our young boys to celebrate making it into the final and then a further week and a bit goes by before telling us it will have to replayed."
A Riada official confirmed: "We have lodged an appeal to Howard Wells, chief executive of the IFA on the grounds that the referee's decision in a football match should be final.
"We have a team of advisors and legal experts looking into it and we will not be taking this decision lying down."
The Northern Ireland Boys Cup Final is to be played in Banbridge on Saturday, May 10. Should they win their appeal, or a subsequent semi-final replay, Riada will meet Coleraine's Bertie Peacock Youths in the final.
The full article contains 480 words and appears in Ballymoney Times newspaper.
