The Manx International Football Alliance has said it believes there are no rules or laws preventing Ellan Vannin’s proposed match with Occitania going ahead next month.
Earlier in the week the organisation announced that it planned to head to Southern France to play against the Tynwald Hill tournament winners in a match held in aid of the Rotary Club’s End Polio Now campaign.
The game is scheduled to be played on December 30, the disputed date of a proposed friendly between Ellan Vannin and Kurdistan at the Bowl. The Isle of Man FA raised objections to the timing of that game under the two organisations’ memorandum of understanding and the ‘negative impact’ it would have on Railway Cup final on December 28 and league programme on January 3.
On Thursday evening an FA press release confirmed the objections it held to the Kurdistan game would also stand for the Occitania match: ‘It was made clear to MIFA that rejection of their application was not related to either the opposition or the venue but solely because of the date proposed.’
MIFA’s latest statement on the subject released on Friday added: ‘MIFA is committed to providing opportunities for international football. Through MIFA’s involvement in CONIFA, which includes many disaffected and un-recognised regions, it seeks to take politics out of international football.
‘In equal vein, MIFA wants to work with the IoMFA to eradicate politics from Manx football. A united approach, which encourages opportunities for international games, is in the island’s interests, and in this case, the eradication of polio across the world.
‘MIFA has elected not to respond publicly to any persisting opposition to the match.
‘There are no rules or laws that prevent this game proceeding.
‘However, since this is a charity game, should a player elect not to participate for any reason, this will have no impact on his future selection for Ellan Vannin.’
The statement concluded by saying further details of the match, together with travel arrangements, will be announced shortly.