Foras has called on the League of Ireland to review its processes for assessing pitch conditions

The Friends of the Rebel Army Society (FORAS) has called on the League of Ireland to review its processes for assessing pitch conditions after the Shamrock Rovers and Cork City match was postponed with just 35 minutes notice on Sunday evening.

In a statement, FORAS said: "Hundreds of travelling supporters incurred expense and spent hours travelling to Dublin, having been twice assured the fixture would go ahead.

"FORAS is calling on the League to explain how it issued a notice to supporters at 4pm ‘confirming’ the fixture would go ahead, only to call it off a little over an hour later.

"Met Éireann had forecast heavy downpours and potential thunderstorms for the Dublin region on Sunday. 

"As such, earlier inspections at 11am and 4pm should have taken into account the impact this further forecast rain would have had on a playing surface that has hosted two games since Thursday night.

"The League needs to also explain why a request from Cork City to delay kick off to facilitate the game going ahead was apparently ignored.

"The League’s handling of this fixture has seen hundreds of travelling supporters left out of pocket, and having wasted a day going to Dublin.

"This treatment of loyal supporters is not good enough, is a poor reflection on the League’s ability to manage the competition, and demands a review to avoid a repeat of a similar situation."

Despite the Tallaght Stadium pitch passing inspections at both 11am and 4pm, 40 minutes before the 6pm, another survey resulted in it being deemed waterlogged.

This was the third game in four days scheduled for the venue, following the Hoops’ extra-time Conference League playoff game against Molde and Friday’s women’s international between Ireland and Turkey.

“I feel sorry for our fans - they travel up today and 35 minutes before kick-off it’s called off,” City manager Tim Clancy said after the call made by referee Gavin Colfer.

“The fans travelling in a wasted journey is the frustrating part.

“Sometimes things can happen where nobody’s at fault. There’s been a few games off the last few days and the weather has been horrendously bad. 

"It was playable in the pitch inspections at 11m and 4pm. Then there was a torrential downpour at 4.15pm.

“This pitch has been the best surface in the country for the last number of years. The ground staff did their best to get the game on.”