Fresh doubt over Linfield’s Irish Cup trip to the Brandywell

Institute's Oisin Devlin

Linfield’s trip to the Ryan McBride Brandywell to play Championship high-flyers Institute in the quarter-finals of the Clearer Water Irish Cup is in doubt, following a fresh appeal by Ards.

In the Sixth Round, Stute claimed a 1-0 win over the Red and Blues thanks to a first half header from Mikhail Kennedy. However, the result of the cup clash was thrown into doubt when Ards lodged a protest against the involvement of Larne loanee Oisin Devlin.

Substitute Devlin was brought on at half-time, despite not being named on Institute's original team sheet. The Londonderry club added Devlin to the bench after the initial team sheet was submitted, however Ards claim their management team was not informed of the change – contrary to cup rule 7c.

The protest was dismissed by the Irish FA’s Challenge Cup last Thursday. However, Ards have exercised their right to challenge that verdict by lodging an appeal, which will be heard by the Appeals Committee.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Ards Football Club has decided to appeal the IFA Challenge Cup Committee’s decision to dismiss the club’s protest in relation to our sixth round match.”

Last week, Ards chairman Warren Patton told the Belfast Telegraph that he was confused by the Challenge Cup Committee’s decision to reject his club’s appeal.

The committee agreed that Institute had broken rule 7c of competition rules, but concluded that the infringement 'did not affect the eligibility of the player to participate in the match.'

Patton said: "I am disappointed in the outcome of the protest, but I am even more disappointed that the Challenge Cup Committee has admitted that a rule breach has occurred yet they have decided that the player was still eligible