Waterford United are to appeal the result of their Airtricity League play-off defeat to Dundalk over claims that Dundalk’s Michael Rafter was inaccurately registered.
Rafter scored both goals in Dundalk’s 2-0 victory in the second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off against the Blues at the RSC on Friday; with Dundalk coming out on top 4-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
Waterford, however, are to appeal the result of the play-off due to their belief that Rafter was inaccurately registered, a claim that, according to posts from their official Twitter account this afternoon, they considered very carefully and believe has merit.
According to a report in today’s Irish Sun, Dundalk maintain that 20-year old Rafter signed for them from St. Michael’s AFC in Tipperary, an amateur side, on February 21. The window for amateur players closed on January 31, but if Rafter was signed on a professional basis, he was entitled to sign for the Lilywhites during the professional registration period.
The situation would appear to be a potentially complicated one, but if Waterford’s appeal is upheld, the result of the play-off could be overturned and possibly lead to a place in the Airtricity Premier Division for the Blues next season.
We await the developments with interest.
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