TWENTY-FOUR hours after the FAI confirmed a high-profile friendly involving Manchester United that could clash with a Champions League game a couple of miles away, Limerick FC have called on the League to reverse a decision to refuse them permission to stage a game against Barcelona on July 31st in Thomond Park.

League director Fran Gavin said last night the decision had been taken on the basis of "third party commercial agreements" that "prevent" the organisation from allowing the game to go ahead. But he declined to explain what deal or deals were involved or the nature of the problem.

He also mentioned the potential for the game to clash with League of Ireland games that night, although the closest one scheduled is the First Division match between Salthill Devon and Cork City, some 65 miles away.

In the Premier Division, Sligo are due to be at home too, while some Dublin clubs and Dundalk may have to reschedule domestic matches as a result of their European involvement. But they are all more than 100 miles away and all are far more likely to be adversely affected by the United match from which the FAI stands to profit.

"It's been an ongoing situation," said Gavin in relation to Limerick's application, "but we've explained the reasons to them. They're not happy and they've communicated that to us but, regretfully, we're not in a position to do anything about it."

Separately, the FAI confirmed it is in talks with Barcelona about a game at the Aviva Stadium, and a number of other league clubs had explored the possibility of hosting a match against the La Liga giants this summer despite the enormous up-front costs involved.

Limerick officials hope they might turn a profit approaching €100,000 from the game, the sort of figure they budgeted to make from just such an event in their licence application at the start of the year.

The club, however, also see the match as a way of improving their profile in the city and boosting attendances, which average only around 600 for league games.

Club chairman Pat O'Sullivan also insisted the league's failure to sanction the game is a blow to the city and wider area, citing figures in relation to rugby matches at the venue to suggest the overall losses are likely to run into millions.

"This is a massive setback for Limerick FC, Limerick City and the Mid-West region," he said. "Along with Thomond Park and local tourism bodies we have worked tirelessly to bring a team of the stature of FC Barcelona to the sports-mad Mid-West region. The potential benefit to the local economy of up to €10million and to the profile of soccer in the region is enormous.

"This makes it imperative that the Airtricity League director reverse his decision, sanction this match and allow fans all over the region see the likes of Lionel Messi grace Thomond Park in July."