The FA of Ireland banned two First Division side Athlone Town players, Igors Labuts and Dragos Sfrijan, for 12 months for "breaching rules relating to manipulating matches and gambling," according to RTÉ. The governing body said that an investigation was launched after a UEFA Betting Fraud Detection System report demonstrated "clear and overwhelming betting evidence that the course or result" of Athlone’s game against Longford Town on April 29 "was unduly influenced with a view to gaining corrupt betting profits." The investigation was then widened on May 5 to "take a closer look at two other games involving the club." However, the investigators found that there was "insufficient evidence around those games to bring any charges," so the investigation "focused solely" on the game that took place on April 29 (RTÉ, 9/7). In Dublin, Aidan Fitzmaurice reported the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland expressed its "disappointment and shock" after Labuts and Sfrijan were banned. The PFAI released a "strong" statement insisting that there was "no evidence the players were guilty" of such offense and said that it will appeal the decision as far as the Court of Arbitration for Sport "if necessary." The statement read, "It was with great disappointment and shock that such a result has occurred from what was a most serious charge with such flimsy evidence. To be completely clear, this association and these players find the concept of match manipulation and anything that affects the integrity of this sport completely unacceptable and we believe it should be met with harsh punishment where it is proven with appropriate evidence. This is not such a case. In fact no evidence exists that these players were guilty of any such offence" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 9/7).
