FAI urged to shut its door to UEFA over treatment of Drogheda United
It is terrible the way Drogheda United have been treated by UEFA.
And it is time for the Drogs of War to go into battle because sporting success should always be determined by what happens on the pitch.
While UEFA changed the rules for those who are part of multi-club ownership models, the whole thing still feels bizarre.
That is why Monday was such a shocking day for Drogheda when it became clear the club had lost its appeal to the Court of Arbitration and Sport - meaning they would be unable to play in this season's UEFA Conference League.
Read more: Drogheda United co-chairman says owners will stump up cash to cover Conference League exit
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If that was bad, things would then get even worse on Monday night.
Despite taking the lead against Shamrock Rovers, they were then pinned back by a free kick scored by Graham Burke just before half-time before losing 2-1 via Aaron Greene's winner.
And that made it a Black Monday that Drogheda are unlikely to ever forget.
Of course there is nothing wrong with UEFA looking at multi club ownership and demanding sporting integrity.
Nobody would want games taking place in sporting competition where two clubs owned by the same people could potentially be giving direction as to who should win.
But there was no danger of such a scenario unfolding with Drogheda United.
And that is why Drogheda United co-chairman Ben Boycott was right to state that his club was made an example of.
Trivela, who now own Drogheda as well as Danish side Silkeborg, have put forward many potential solutions to ensure fair play would prevail.
I believe Drogheda are spot-on to say the UEFA process has 'lacked consistency, clarity and fairness'.
Multi-club ownership exists all the way through the world of football.
According to a UEFA statement in March, 342 clubs are currently part of Multi-Club Ownership.
In English football, 16 clubs in the Premier League, 10 in the Championship, 13 in League Two are involved in clubs with ownership involvement from the same people.
Just look at Manchester City.
They are a majority owned club by some of the richest people in Abu Dhabi.
The City football group owns stakes in clubs in the UK, USA, Australia, India, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, Belgium, China, Italy and Turkey.
And there is no doubt if Drogheda United was part of the City global group then there is no way UEFA would have gone to war with the Drogs.
That is why this week's events ask serious questions of the FAI.
It is their licensing process that has allowed the Trivela Group to be majority owners of Drogheda United.They need to understand what an absolute disaster this was for both Drogheda United and Irish football.
Can you imagine if those in charge at Abbotstown made it clear to the top brass of UEFA that if they made an example of any Irish club - then the FAI would call in their own Drogs of War.
Had they made it clear that the FAI and Irish football would never lie down and be bullied by the inconsistencies of UEFA, they would have made a massive statement.
Anyone looking at this case will be able to see that Drogheda were treated very differently to any other club.
And the fact they have been made an example of is something the FAI should never, ever accept.
I demand that those in charge at Abbotstown come out now and fight against this injustice.
The FAI must make it very clear to UEFA that unless a remedy is found to Drogheda's situation then the two bodies will be at war.
That doesn't mean firing guns.
But it does mean the FAI telling UEFA they are no longer welcome in Ireland.
The FAI should shut the door on UEFA and make it clear no one from their organisation is welcome on these shores.
If they do this, the FAI will win respect.
If they don't, they will never be respected again.
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