UCC Demons dispute ruling on Neptune play-off re-fixture so replay may not go ahead on Sunday

There is still no indication if UCC Demons will replay their Men’s Super League quarter-final against great rivals Energywise Ireland Neptune next Sunday.

Demons are still furious with the decision made by NLC (National League Committee) in giving Neptune an opportunity to replay the game, which has been refixed for this weekend.

For almost 60 years there has been a serious rivalry between these northside clubs, but the past few days have seen tensions rise considerably following Sunday’s game that Demons won 100-93.

The basic fact is that Demons were awarded two points too many in the opening quarter, which wasn't rectified before the end of the game.

The ruling by the NLC is based on the FIBA rulebook, which states: “The competent body shall issue any procedural requests which it deems appropriate and shall decide on the protest immediately and in any case less than 24 hours following the end of the game.

"The competent body shall use any reliable evidence and take any appropriate decision, including without limitation partial or full replay of the game. 

"The competent body may not decide to change the result of the game unless there is clear and conclusive evidence that, had it not been for the error that gave rise to the protest, the new result would have certainly materialised.” 

It has been a stressful week for Demons chairman Michael O’Leary who is miffed at how the NCL came to their decision.

“First of all, our club were told there was no appeal but we do have issues and we have sent them back to the NCL for clarification.

“We were never asked to make a statement on what actually happened as they took the word solely of the game commissioner.

“On the rule they judged us on it clearly states the competent body shall use reliable evidence and believe me if they had asked us we would have given them the correct happenings at the table that had nothing to do with members of Blue Demons basketball club.

“We are now gone beyond the table errors, but the basic fact is that Demons scored 98 points after the deduction and Neptune scored 93 points.

“There was a correctable error made and Neptune had the right to protest and the NLC have the right to rule on it.

“However, the rule clearly states to change the original result there has to be clear evidence that a different result would have materalised if the error had not been made.

“Let me state it again, 'clear evidence and certainty', and our claim is that the margin of error would have to be greater than the victory for clear and certainty for it to have been a different result."

Demons also issued a statement condemning social media commentary on the controversy.

"There has been an intense response on social media and in the national media, some positive, some negative, and some that have no place in sport or society.

"The Blue Demons appointed officials acted with the highest level of integrity. No errors were made, and all actions, inputs, and deletions were intentional and carried out under the instructions of the Basketball Ireland match officials and game commissioner."

Demons are set to issue another statement on Thursday regarding their stance on a replay.