The FAI board has ratified the decision made yesterday by the National League Executive Committee to restart the SSE Airtricity League on July 31.
The NLEC voted on Tuesday to stick with the existing format of a relegation play-off, despite the opposition of nine of the 10 Premier Division clubs, who wanted a one up, one down format due to the season being cut in half from 36 to 18 games.
Shamrock Rovers and the First Division clubs voted in favour of the original format.
Rovers, who are leading the top flight, believe that a play-off involving the ninth placed Premier Division club and the winner of a series between the First Division's second and fifth placed sides will keep the top tier more competitive to the end of the season.
Those clubs wrote to the FAI board on Tuesday night to ask for a review of the NLEC's decision and the return being trumpeted before association chiefs had rubber-stamped it.
FAI chiefs called a meeting for this evening to discuss the issue and have decided to go with the NLEC's stance, which could provoke a response from the Premier Club Alliance with some clubs previously threatening legal action or a boycott.
