The 2025 iteration of the FAI Youth Inter-Provincial Tournament gets under-way this evening. The Munster Football Association are this year’s host region.

For full details, download the official tournament programme below:

FAI Youth Inter Provincial Tournament 2025 Digital Programme

 

 

 

 

As the FAI builds out its 11 priority actions, identified in the Football Pathways Plan, they have announced the next phase of consultation, which is aimed to be more focussed on specific actions for clubs.

In the coming weeks the FAI regional teams will be engaging with all stakeholders, on one of the 11 priority actions, ‘The role of the Head of Football in every league and club’. The team will be consulting with those who are currently working as the Head of Football in their respective league or club to come and attend their regional workshop.

We would also like to mention that if you do not have someone in this role currently, that you can nominate someone who could be in this role in the future.

All are encouraged to attend their regional consultation workshop and share their thoughts and insights. As much feedback as possible is wanted and needed, and welcome all involved in football to be part of the conversation.

Please RSVP for a consultation workshop that suits you. 

7th October Limerick – Raddison Blu

16th October Cork – Rochestown Park Hotel

Respect and fairness towards all participants are core values of our sport. However, referees and other match officials are regularly subjected to verbal and/or behavioural dissent when they make decisions. In extreme cases, players sometimes run at referees and surround or mob them, which shows a lack of respect for the referee, harms the image of the game and can be intimidating and upsetting. In an effort to develop stronger collaboration between the referee and teams a new system of communication between the referee and team captains will be implemented from the start of this season. It is designed to increase transparency, help instil fairness and develop mutual respect. Referees will now offer an explanation of key decisions, to the team captain who will be allowed to approach the referee, provided that they do so respectfully and conduct themselves in a calm and respectful manner. At the same time, it will be the responsibility of each captain to ensure that their team-mates remain a reasonable distance from the referee and do not interfere in the interaction between the referee and the team captain(s). The following simple guidelines will assist us in to applying the ‘only the captain’ principles. These should be communicated to all stakeholders. Standard Guidelines

• Normal interactions between players and the referee are allowed and remain important (to increase transparency and avoid possible frustration and conflict).
• Any player (including the captain) who shows dissent by word or action will be cautioned (yellow card).
• The referee will, where appropriate, explain important decisions to the captain(s)
• To prevent players mobbing or surrounding the referee after key incidents or decisions the following steps will apply:
  • only one player from each team – the captain – is allowed to approach the referee and, when doing so, they must always interact in a respectful manner
  • the referee may instruct/encourage players (verbally or with gestures) not to approach them
  • the team captains are responsible for helping to direct their team-mates away from the referee;
  • players who approach/surround the referee when they are not permitted to do so may be cautioned (yellow card);
  • if appropriate, the referee may delay the restart of play to allow the captain(s) time to speak with their team-mates to explain a decision, demand proper behaviour, etc.
• Interaction with, or an approach by, any player other than the captain is at the discretion of the referee, e.g. if the player has committed an offence, been fouled and/or is injured.

  Guidelines when the captain is the goalkeeper

• Where the goalkeeper is the captain, the referee must be told, no later than at the coin toss before kick-off, which player is nominated to approach the referee instead of the goalkeeper.
• Only the goalkeeper or the nominated player, not both, may approach the referee.
• If the nominated player is substituted or sent off, another player must be nominated.

  Instructions to referees: Referees will be asked to:

• Inform the team managers of the ‘only the captain’ policy when meeting prior to kick off.
• Inform the players of the ‘only the captain’ policy when checking the players equipment.
• Inform both captains at the coin toss that they will explain key decisions, and only the captains will be allowed to approach the referee, provided that they do so respectfully

    Key match incidents / decisions include:

• Penalty kicks
• Red cards
• Significant foul play
• Disallowed goals

    We are aware this will take some time to reach all levels of the game and have asked that referees show understanding and take opportunities to reinforce the key messages of the policy with the teams they referee.  Referees have received online training and this will be reinforced during Zoom calls with all referees taking place over the coming weeks.   Full PDF copy of this policy below:   Only the Captain – Policy Guidelines September 2024

Full Draws available to Download here:

MIG.ie Munster Junior Cup Draws 24-25

MIG.ie Munster Junior Shield Draws 24-25