Bohemians are determined not to allow Champions League opponents FC Levadia Maardu to affect their preparations ahead of tomorrow night's first qualifying round second leg clash in Tallin. The Estonian club are to have an appeal heard by UEFA in Geneva tomorrow morning regarding their first leg 3-0 defeat at Dalymount Park last Wednesday.
Levadia are protesting that one of the goalposts at the stadium was two centimetres too low and they also have complaints about the size and location of their dressing room, and about the behaviour of a Bohs official, which the Dublin club have vehemently denied.
Bohemians president Phelim O'Reilly is confident that Levadia's appeal will be dismissed by UEFA. "We feel the appeal has no realistic chance of succeeding," he said. "Nobody has told us what penalties would be imposed, but we are not expecting any. Their initial objection was thrown out and we're confident this appeal will be as well."
However, Bohs manager Pete Mahon is adamant that his team has not been affected by the matter and are quietly getting on with the job of securing a second qualifying round place against Swedish champions Halmstad BK.
"I haven't discussed it with my the players as we see it as gamesmanship on their part," explained Mahon. "If anything, their protesting will act as an incentive for us to make sure we bury them." Mahon is expected to name an unchanged side when he confirms his team line-up tomorrow morning.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
