Latest news with #GerardLawlor
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
BetMcLean Cup winners to earn European final spot
The winners of the BetMcLean Cup will automatically go into the Irish Premiership's European play-off final from next who secured European qualification by winning the play-off last season, are also the holders of the BetMcLean Cup. "It adds real incentive for clubs and fans and raises the profile of the BetMcLean Cup even further," said NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor."This isn't just a cup final anymore; it's potentially a golden ticket to Europe."The number of European positions for Irish Premiership clubs will remain league winners will secure a Champions League qualification spot and second place will also automatically qualify for Europe. Teams which finish from third to seventh will enter the European play-offs, and the winner of that end-of-season play-off will join the Irish Cup winners in earning a European defeated Glentoran 1-0 after extra-time in the final of the BetMcLean Cup in March. The Reds then defeated the Glens again in their European play-off semi-final and beat Coleraine in the final to join Irish Premiership champions Linfield, runners-up Larne and Irish Cup winners Dungannon Swifts in Europe.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Motion for Sunday football passed at Irish FA AGM
A motion to approve Sunday football in Northern Ireland has been approved at the Irish FA's annual general meeting. The proposal, brought forward by the Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL], gained a 76% majority on Monday with chief executive Gerard Lawlor believing it is a necessary step in efforts to improve standards of the competition."The NIFL Board holds firm in its belief that being professional is more than a label, it is a standard we must reach and uphold in every sense," he said."The landscape of professional football is changing rapidly throughout the world, and Northern Ireland must evolve with it, or risk being left behind."We are pleased with the outcome and look forward to further engagement and implementation with our member clubs."The proposal will only apply to NIFL competitions, which are the three men's top divisions, the Women's Premiership and their respective League Cup Irish FA's rules stated "no match shall be played within Northern Ireland on a Sunday unless the two participating clubs and competition organisers agree to do so".An amendment to this was first proposed by NIFL two years ago but was rejected by a large that occasion, NIFL had proposed an amendment by saying it "shall not apply to matches played under the auspices" of the governing time, the motion for Sunday football was put forward with the caveat that Irish League clubs had the option to opt in or out through their participation amendment means matches in the top three flights of football in Northern Ireland, which come under NIFL's jurisdiction, could be played on any day of the week."The data is clear: traditional Saturday afternoon attendances are in decline. We must recognise this and respond accordingly," NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor posted on X , externalahead of Monday's AGM."This is not a debate of tradition versus change, it is about responding to reality with a forward-thinking approach."The flexibility offered by this proposal allows for fixtures to be played on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, creating new opportunities for increased visibility, enhanced commercial value, and improved fan engagement."Sunday football has become a more regular occurrence across Northern Ireland in recent years. Last season, Larne played a number of Irish Premiership matches on a Sunday after they qualified for the Uefa Conference League and their European fixtures were played on a Thursday have also hosted the BetMcLean Cup final on a Sunday for the past four years, and the decider of the women's competition was played on Sunday as Cliftonville defeated addition to this, a number of Women's Premiership matches have also taken place on a Sunday in recent who oppose Sunday football in Northern Ireland have often cited religious reasons, and concerns about attendance numbers by going up against big Premier League matches which are televised on a Sunday.
Belfast Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
We'd handle Linfield and Portadown fans compensation row differently if we could: NIFL chief Gerard Lawlor
The Northern Ireland Football League Chief Executive says the organisation have learned from the controversy over not making payments to Linfield and Portadown fans to compensate them for the late postponements of last year's Premiership games away to Dungannon Swifts and Coleraine, adding that they would deal with the matter differently if it happened again. In February, Linfield and Portadown issued strongly worded statements outlining their 'deep and extreme disappointment' about the situation and now Gerard Lawlor has addressed the fall-out.
Belfast Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
NIFL Board set for new look: ‘A number of key skill sets are missing'
The Northern Ireland Football League Board is set for a new look going forward with Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor declaring that having a make-up of more 'Independents' than officials connected to clubs for the first time is a 'progressive' step and will bring key skill sets into the game. With Board members Keith Boyd (Dungannon Swifts) and Nigel Lecky (Dergview) not seeking re-election following the end of their term, earlier this month at NIFL's AGM members voted overwhelmingly in favour of appointing 'new key independent industry professionals'.
Belfast Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Don't let NIFL's proposal for Sunday football get caught in Irish FA crossfire, urges Gerard Lawlor
Two years ago at the Irish FA AGM, the Northern Ireland Football League suffered an overwhelming defeat by 104 to 27 votes on a proposal about Sunday football. With the thorny subject back on the agenda again for Monday's delayed 2025 AGM, NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor says he has faith that the football community will make 'the right decision for the good of the game' this time.
