Vanishing spray has, well, vanished from the League of Ireland - and players and managers are miffed!
Refs have not been kitted out this season with the €8 cans of foam that are used as temporary visual markers for free-kicks.
The FAI refused to say why this was, but confirmed it was "under review" and spray would be "reintroduced at the earliest opportunity."
The vanishing spray bill costs in the region of €1,680 per season, if a new can is used for each game.
Sources within the game said one canister can sometimes last for two games, depending how frequently it is used.
There was frustration in Shamrock Rovers ranks during Monday’s defeat to Drogheda United at Head in the Game Park.
Hoops skipper Ronan Finn was booked - while on the bench - after questioning match officials when Drogheda players stole yards defending a free-kick.
Finn argued they were six yards from the ball, rather than ten, and claimed it would not happen if referees could still use the vanishing spray.
“For some reason the league seems to not use the spray any more,” said Finn yesterday. “I might get in trouble for saying this but I think it’s really poor.
“It's a professional environment, a professional league and we're trying to do the right things as players and staff.
“I'm not asking for VAR or goal line technology, but this is a physical can that will help the referees make better decisions and make players make better decisions.
“They'll go ‘right, I can't do this because I'll get a card'. It's black or white, you either creep and get away with it, or you can't creep because there’s a line in front of you.”
And Finn continued: “When you get a free kick at the edge of the box, you expect the referee to put down spray, to help themselves, but they don't.
“In fairness, you're going to try and creep yards - I'd do it too, it's natural. But blame the referee, or whoever should be providing it for the referee.”
Vanishing spray was first introduced by FIFA at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
And it was brought into the League of Ireland midway through the 2016 season - and sponsored at the time by Hydra Seals Hose & Bearings.
Quizzed on it, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley said yesterday: “It makes things so much easier for referees, players and staff.
“It means you're not having silly conversations with fourth officials or referees. It’s just ridiculous.”
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