Calendar football voted through despite strong Carlow opposition

After months of debate and wondering, the FAI General Assembly last night voted to approve Calendar Football. 57% of the assembly voted to pass the motion with a vote of 72-56 with two abstaining. 

The motion will see all leagues moving to play their soccer in a calendar year format, between January and December rather than the September-May season the Carlow League and Juveniles League currently run. The Carlow and District League were vocal opponents to this motion at the meeting as they continued to fight for a no vote as per the mandate that 100% of their clubs had given them. 

There had been a lot of debate as to why the leagues who played September-May weren’t the ones to decide because it affects them most, whereas for other leagues and the League of Ireland, it wouldn’t affect them as they wouldn’t have to change their season. Most of the opposition to the motion came from fears about having to compete with the GAA, with many people electing to play both sports. 

Calendar Football will be now implemented on a phased basis. 5-12 year olds will be first to have their seasons moved in 2026, followed by 13-16 year olds in 2027 and everyone else from 2028. It will be an interesting few months ahead for Irish soccer as leagues come to terms with the outcome of the vote and decisions will have to be made on their future and how they move forward.