Major Mayo soccer official suspended for twelve months
Conn Rangers manager Joe Faughnan, who is also Mayo FC Chairperson, has been banned by The Mayo League, from all football related activities for a period of 12 months, with immediate effect, with the final three months suspended. In addition, the Club has been fined €200.
The club has been fined a further €500, in respect of another individual, who has been banned for two years.
The punishment relates to incidents at an Under-18 Quigley Cup match between Conn Rangers and Killala, on October, 18th, which was abandoned.
The Mayo News understands that Mr Faughnan was not at the match as he was caught up unexpectedly at work, but he did complete the software app which acts as the official teamsheet for the match, where he put himself down as team manager for the fixture.
Mr Faughnan’s punishment cites falsification of team management information on the FAI Connect App for the match in question.
Mayo FC which is a separate entity, has just completed its inaugural season in the FAI National League, where Mr Faughan has been to the forefront. In addition to his roles at Mayo FC and the Conn Rangers Under-18 team, He is the manager of the Conn Rangers Mayo Super League team and is very active in Mayo soccer.
Mr Faughan has expressed his disappointment at the decision and an appeal seems likely. His defence is that he is the manager of the Conn Rangers Under-18 team and had completed the app in good faith, as he intended to be present at the game but got delayed at work, and couldn’t attend. He completed the app, he says, as he is one of the few people involved in the club with access the input section of the software.
The ban covers all Mayo League, Connacht FA and FAI related activities.
The Mayo League refused to comment on the matter, indicating that it does not comment on disciplinary matters.
Mayo Soccer never finds itself far from controversy. Earlier this year a new Management Committee had to be elected at an EGM when the previous committee stood down over an internal row.