Me neither. I thought it'd be good to have a bit of peace and quiet around the FAI, a spell where thyey just quietly went about their work with no controversy. Well that didn't last long.
As you say, the reforms were blocked by the schoolboy factions. Somebody needs to rip up the FAI's constitution and structure. Too much power lies with too many vested interests. €6mm withheld for whgat reason? DDSL couldn't agree to another woman on the board or something like that!
I did read that the Government says that they recognise the FAI has made significant progress and the funding is ready to be dispersed:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/202...ive-addressed/
“At the moment there’s a sum of €6.8 million outstanding to the FAI from Sport Ireland for general funding including a special allocation made this year of €500,000 for women in sport funding in response to Ireland qualifying for their first ever World Cup. And we want to get that money to the FAI as soon as possible,” said Mr Byrne.
“I do want to acknowledge that the FAI have signalled their willingness to implement the recommendations set out in the audit,” added Mr Byrne. “To be fair to the FAI, they’ve implemented almost everything in the memorandum of understanding and I do want to say that it’s about 95 per cent and that’s really, really important. We’re just working things through in the department in terms of the FAI’s response, but it is certainly my intention to be able to finalise this matter relatively soon.
“I think it is important to remember that the FAI at the moment is getting double the funding than it would ordinarily get because of the memorandum of understanding and additionally, up to last year, we were also paying essentially the rent or the payment that’s due on the Aviva and that’s not continuing.
“We want to make sure that the FAI can go on their own two feet. It’s quite likely that there will be a continuation of the MoU passed next year if the FAI needed and want it.”
It seems SIPTU want him gone though:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/202...ff-and-public/
“The aforementioned breach of FAI policy [taking payment in lieu of untaken holidays] could be viewed as gross misconduct under current FAI disciplinary policy,” wrote Teresa Hannick, the Siptu divisional organiser.
“Our members have advised us that they have now lost confidence in the FAI senior management and some members of the FAI board,” continued the letter to Byrne. “They contend that over the past year there has been a failure by senior management to restore trust with FAI staff and between the association and the Irish public.”
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