Unite the Union Champions Cup cancelled due to 'scheduling issues'

The Unite the Union Champions Cup has been cancelled due to "scheduling issues".

Unite the Union, the Irish Football Association and Football Association of Ireland had planned to run an expanded four-team tournament in 2021.

But the impact of the Covid pandemic saw the semi-finals of the competition put back until this year, and now a decision has been made to scrap it altogether.

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Talks will now begin on the future of the competition itself and other initiatives.

Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said: “We will continue to work with our partners on this and other ventures that place an important value on community as central to our game.”

Unite the Union Deputy Regional Secretary Davy Thompson said: “Whilst we are disappointed that the tournament couldn’t be concluded, we do acknowledge the pressures on clubs, players and staff coupled with the split seasons and the difficulties this brings when trying to organise a competition of this nature.

“Covid is something that no-one could have envisaged as we entered into this project and has played a significant part in this outcome. We will continue to work closely with both associations and the clubs to advance our community activities which were at the core of this competition.”

League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon said that following on from the Covid-19 enforced postponement of the semi-finals late last year it had proven difficult to find alternative dates for the semi-finals and final of the Unite the union Champions Cup 2021.

He said: “Together with Unite the Union and the Irish FA we have had to make the difficult decision to phase out the tournament.

"On behalf of the FAI and our League of Ireland