Scottish second division club Clydebank have lodged an official complaint with the European Union concerning the attempt by the FAI to prevent them relocating from their present home in Dumbarton to the RDS in Dublin.

The club wrote last week to Jonathan Faull, a senior official in the Competition section of the European Commission, to protest against the FAI's intervention in the matter through their protests to the Scottish FA. Clydebank's believe that the FAI's move is in contravention of European Law.

The club had previously attempted to get the Irish Competition Authority to intervene in the case, claiming that the FAI's active opposition to the move broke Irish competition laws, but the authority informed them that they should take the matter up with the European Commission.

Having done this, it will be up to officials in Brussels to decide whether there is a case for the Commission to consider. If they decide that there is case to answer, a verdict on the complaint could be reached before the middle of the summer.

"We feel that what these guys have done is illegal," said Dublin-based Clydebank board member Colm McCarthy yesterday. "In those circumstances, as directors of a company, we have no option but to pursue it. That's what we are now going to do."

McCarthy is still optimistic that the club, which could all but wrap up promotion to the first division by beating Stranraer this weekend, will be able to complete its proposed move, but he admits that the Scottish League still have the final say on the matter, even if the current action is successful.

"Absolutely, they are the competent body to deal with this request and we would have to abide by any decision they come to. Ultimately it is all up to the (Scottish) League Management Committee, but I think there is a lot of support there for us."

How much support could not be gauged when the matter was put on the agenda for a league committee meeting at the start of March. The matter was discussed by club representatives, but not voted upon, with the 12-man committee deciding instead to duck the issue by telling the club to first seek the permission of the FAI and SFA. That decision, says McCarthy, was disappointing, but the matter is likely to be considered again by the committee in May when Clydebank directors are confident members could be forced to decide one way or another on the proposal.

"It's difficult to tell what exactly the time scale would be at this stage, but I think we could compel them to consider the matter eventually if we needed to. They have told us to apply to the FAI, but on what basis? We're not members of the FAI. The Scottish League is the body with jurisdiction on this matter and they are the ones who will have to decide on it."

The FAI, however, continue to maintain that, as the governing body of football in the 26 counties, they have a right of veto on the matter. It now seems certain the European Commission will have to pass judgement on the FAI's claims. The only question now is whether Clydebank's or Wimbledon's case is the first to be decided upon.