Derry City FC and Crusaders FC launched a judicial review in the High Court against their exclusion from the second stage of the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The Stormont Executive allocated £36.2m to the programme for stadium and infrastructure improvements across the region.

Out of 41 eligible clubs, 38 submitted bids in the first phase. Funding covered three tiers based on project scale. In September 2024, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced 20 clubs advanced to the next stage. Derry City FC and Crusaders FC did not progress.

Lawyers for the clubs argued the Department for Communities deviated unlawfully from the published process. A specialist sectoral panel was meant to advise the minister on scored and ranked bids. The department skipped this step after applications closed.

Stephen Toal KC stated that Minister Lyons selected David Jeffrey and Gary McAllister, chairman of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs, for the panel. Gerard Lawlor, Northern Ireland Football League chief executive, objected to Jeffrey. Graham Fitzgerald, Irish FA boss, objected to McAllister.

The department proposed alternative candidates, Toal KC said, but received three months of ministerial silence. This led to abandoning the panel, which he called unjustified. He asked the court to quash the decisions not to convene the panel and not to advance the clubs.

Tony McGleenan KC, for the department, called it a narrow issue of procedural legitimate expectation. He said a minister can change position lawfully. He rejected claims of illegality in ministerial delays, noting ministers handle many matters.

Mr Justice Fowler reserved judgment and promised a ruling soon.