Demons will play refixed play-off with Neptune but matter not closed

During last week's game, which Demons won 100-93 on the scoreboard, Demons were awarded two points too many in the opening quarter, a mistake which wasn't rectified before the end of the game.

However Demons objected to the refixture, citing the rule that "to change the original result there has to be clear evidence that a different result would have materalised if the error had not been made".

In a statement today, released by club secretary Troy O'Mahony, Demons explained to their members the reason behind fulfilling their fixture.

“Blue Demons basketball club have decided to remain in the competition as the NLC offered no viable to an alternative.

The reasons are too complex, and we will give you the principal points of our decision.

• 13 clubs approximately, 200 players and coaches have worked for the past nine months to determine the best team in the league.

• The withdrawal of UCC Demons as the number one ranked team for administration, gamesmanship and principals would have denied all these players and clubs to conclude the work on court.

• We have full consideration for our partners in UCC and the Mardyke Arena who are very important to our club and were all factored in our decision.

"This was never a Demons and Neptune dispute as neither team did [anything] wrong, but it turned out to be Neptune v Basketball Ireland issue which then became a UCC Demons versus Basketball Ireland issue still to be explained."

While Demons will play the game on Saturday, they insist this will not be the end of the matter. 

"The game will go on but away from the court, but we will also go on to hold the NLC to account as we need to understand why we were punished.

"The handling and the decision making and their failing in their duty of care to officials.

In a week that created more questions than answers, trust and credibility were damaged we draw a line in the sand for now.” 

Earlier, Demons also issued a response to the NLC about their response to Demons' concerns about refixing the game.

“We received your response, which fell short of the explanation requested.

"From the first error and throughout this whole process up to and including your response, the only view that keeps coming to the fore front in all of this is “infallible” and “the sense of infallibility”.

"The assertion that the result was not changed as it was null and void is to suggest that it actually never happened.

"We feel that the sense of infallibility by the NLC challenged individual members to find a solution that protect their original decision.

"By ruling that the NLC did not change the result because The NLC had earlier decided that it did not happen, may have been the best or only response to protect of the original decision and that people acted with a bias.

"The NLC original decision was justified, rather than an acceptance that Blue Demons view may be correct, especially in the face of the public media attention being an overbearing factor.

"We accept the ruling without prejudice to our view, that an injustice has occurred and that Blue Demons got pulled into a dispute not of their making or request.

"The NLC acted outside of the rules laid out by FIBA.

"To hold the NLC to account, we intend to pursue this regardless of the on court results for the remainder of the season and will be seeking advice inside or outside of sports where required."