An agreement between Derry City Football Club and the Football Association of Ireland means that, pending the outcome of legal proceedings, the Northern club will not have to pay transfer fees for three players transferred to it from clubs in the Republic, the High Court was told yesterday.
Last month the club obtained temporary orders against the FAI in a dispute over the association's right to seek transfer fees for players transferred to Derry from clubs in the Republic.
The dispute centres on the European Court of Justice's Bosman ruling, which stipulated that transfer fees should not be imposed on players moving between clubs in different EU states.
The three players involved are Gavin Dykes, who formerly played with Sligo Rovers; James Keddy, formerly with UCD; and Richard Purdy, formerly with Dundalk. Their contracts with their former clubs terminated last year and they became free to negotiate with other clubs.
Ms Fidelma Macken SC, for Derry City FC, yesterday told Mr Justice Budd that the club's application for an interlocutory injunction could be struck out as a result of undertakings from the FAI.
The undertakings were that the FAI would not attempt to impose a transfer fee or take steps which would have the effect of preventing the three players from playing for Derry. The undertakings would continue until the hearing of an action brought by Derry City against the FAI.