FAI? where has the money gone

[Strabane_Harp]

quote]the fact that the GAA, an amateur sporting
organisation,
had the courage and the drive to build a world class stadium while professional
sporting bodies, particularly the FAI, have lacked similar vision or competence
has been ignored in the whole debate. We ask what others have failed to ask:
what have they done with the financial resources they must have accrued over
the past 15 to 20 years and why in that time were they not in a position to
build their own stadium?
[/quote]

The above quote, from the presidential address of Sinn Fein President Ruairi O Bradaigh at the parties 100th Ard-Fheis


Its a good question, how did the FAI spend the money they made over the last 20 odd years, it sure as hell didnt go into the national league or a stadium?

[A face]

The above quote, from the presidential address of Sinn Fein President Ruairi O Bradaigh at the parties 100th Ard-Fheis


That is a bit rich from them considering their policy on Irish sport .... cant argue with it .... but it does leave them wide open for criticism on their attitude !!

[Strabane_Harp]

quite a few of RSF members are regular LOI supporters, there official policy is support for any irish sport but of course bein republican the GAA would be there main focus

[Troy.McClure]

To be honest the GAA has been bailed out by the government time after time over Croke Park, so its not like they are an ideal modle to copy.

[TonyD]

To be honest the GAA has been bailed out by the government time after time over Croke Park, so its not like they are an ideal modle to copy.

Exactly. The re-development of Croker (Which is highly impressive)wouldn't have been possible without huge subvention from the taxpayer, to an extent which has never been forthcoming for the FAI. Eircom Park, or something similar, could have been built by now if the FAI had received similar monies to the GAA. This is a part of the argument that is constantly overlooked when this issue is being kicked around in the media, and the FAI is being unfavourably compared with the GAA. I'm no huge fan of the FAI, and I'll give the GAA credit where it's due, but who can seriously suggest that the two organisations have been treated equally ?

[dcfcsteve]

Exactly. The re-development of Croker (Which is highly impressive)wouldn't have been possible without huge subvention from the taxpayer, to an extent which has never been forthcoming for the FAI. Eircom Park, or something similar, could have been built by now if the FAI had received similar monies to the GAA. This is a part of the argument that is constantly overlooked when this issue is being kicked around in the media, and the FAI is being unfavourably compared with the GAA. I'm no huge fan of the FAI, and I'll give the GAA credit where it's due, but who can seriously suggest that the two organisations have been treated equally ?

But who has to take ultimate responsibility for inequity of treatment ? Governments only do what is expedient for them at the time.

If the GAA has proved smart enough at working the political system to their own benefit, then fair play to them. The FAI have proved woefully incompetent in this regard - the few times you get a government view on them it tends to be negative.

The FAI need to be a lot smarter and 'cuter' as an organisation than they are now. It seems they're more interested in endless petty internal power struggles and blood letting to do that though.

The FAI must take the ultimate blame here...

[Macy]

The FAI were seriously let down over eP by the Government who refused any funding as they needed the FAI as anchor tenants for Abbottstown. We would already have our own ground if it wasn't for political interference by Bertie, who stirred up the blood letting that resulted in O'Byrne getting the heave. At the time the FAI couldn't possible turn down the deal offered when compared to no support.

You can't have this debate without bearing this in mind - but amazingly people always try to.

It's bizarre to me, whatever the (extremely long) list of FAI faults, that people don't see the FAI (and ultimately us) were well and truly screwed over by Bertie and Co over eircom park. Just remember that when you're on the boat to the next qualifying campaign, or you're paying €50 for a shít ticket in Croker after the GAA rip us off for rent.

[monutdfc]

There is the myth of how much the FAI has earned. Delaney said non-qualification for the World Cup cost the Association €5M. We have qualified for one Euro champs and 3 World Cups. That's €20M - wouldn;t build a decent stand, never mind a "world-class" stadium.
The IRFU are running at a massive deficit because of the cost of paying the many internationals that play their club/provincial game here.
Soccer, as a working class sport, doesn;t have the same links with big business and FF that the gaa and IRFU have, so its access to corporate sponsorship and government largesse is more limited. When the FAI did"show the vision" to build eircom Park, it was scuppered by Bertie promising huge grants and Abbotstown, in the same was that he scuppered the opening up of Croke Park with more huge grants.
O'Bradaigh is a complete head-the-ball anyway