Irish FA to vote on making Sunday football the default position for clubs

A fresh attempt to introduce Sunday football for Northern Ireland will be voted on at the next Irish FA AGM.

The proposed amendment would require teams to specify whether or not they would take part in matches played on a Sunday through a Participation Agreement with the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). The AGM is expected to be held on 16 June in Limavady.

A similar measure was put forward in 2023, but was resoundingly rejected, with 104 voting against and just 27 in favour. It was criticised for allowing the NIFL to overrule the will of individual clubs on the issue.

Opt-out

The revised amendment is that: “No match shall be played within Northern Ireland on a Sunday, unless the two participating clubs and competition organisers agree to do so”.

It then notes: “This Regulation shall not apply to matches played under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Football League unless a member club of the Northern Ireland Football League places the Northern Ireland Football League on notice via the Participation Agreement.”

The proposal also states: “No sanction may be taken against any club, combination of clubs or individual player not agreeing to participate in Sunday Football.”

Negative consequences

The NIFL caused controversy last year over Sunday football by inviting clubs to play in their BetMcLean Cup competition, where clubs would have to agree to play on a Sunday in order to participate.

Loughgall FC brought an appeal against NIFL on the basis that clubs who refused to play would have received less money from broadcasting rights than other teams.