For the past century-and-a-half association football, or soccer, has played a key sporting and social role in Ireland. For the greater part of a century it has been led by the Football Association of Ireland.
In this country soccer is ranked with Gaelic football, hurling and rugby as the key sports which engage the dreams and passions of our people in all walks of life and in every part of the country. In the glory days of the Republic of Ireland’s international soccer exploits, national morale was lifted to unexpected heights in a coming together which was unparalleled.
Every Saturday and Sunday, volunteer team organisers gather tens of thousands of boys and girls to play soccer and enjoy sport and physical activity. Their work comes in an era of many threats to the welfare of our youth from the sedentary life before screens, contributing to youth obesity, to the lure of drink and drugs, which can start a youngster on the road to ruin.
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For all these reasons, it is heartbreaking to observe that the game faces into the year 2020 in a most parlous state, with even the FAI’s continued existence being called into question. The FAI’s interim crisis leader, Paul Cooke, has candidly told delegates to the reconvened AGM that the association’s position was very serious with a possibility of examinership or liquidation. This would have very dire consequences as the FAI president, Donal Conway, explained. If the FAI does go into examinership, it will raise doubts about the association’s continued membership of the international bodies Uefa and Fifa, with knock-on questions about participation in international competitions.
The meeting was told the board is working very hard to avoid that grim outcome. The FAI needs the forbearance of its bank creditors, support from its international umbrella bodies – and realistically taxpayers’ cash from the Government. A figure of €18m has been cited as necessary to keep the FAI from folding soon.
It is clearly time for Irish officialdom to look with some kindness on the organisation’s survival efforts – which is a very far cry from saying it is time for the Government to open the coffers and write blank cheques.
Worryingly, when he was asked if everything related to the FAI’s calamitous finances was now out in the open, Mr Conway said he could not rule out further revelations.
Clearly, all skeletons must be brought from the cupboard, and the final departure of all links to past management must happen before any further cash can be dispensed. It goes without saying that the toughest of conditions must be applied to any rescue plan and transparency must be at the heart of these conditions.
For the delegates who travelled to this reconvened AGM in Citywest yesterday, there were far more questions than answers. Some were mystified at how the financial situation could have been allowed continue over a period of three years without coming to light.
The only flicker of hope is that fundamental changes can be made after a very expensive lesson.
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Home » Analysis & Comment » Editorial: 'Expensive lessons must be learned from FAI Calamity'
Editorial: 'Expensive lessons must be learned from FAI Calamity'
For the past century-and-a-half association football, or soccer, has played a key sporting and social role in Ireland. For the greater part of a century it has been led by the Football Association of Ireland.
In this country soccer is ranked with Gaelic football, hurling and rugby as the key sports which engage the dreams and passions of our people in all walks of life and in every part of the country. In the glory days of the Republic of Ireland’s international soccer exploits, national morale was lifted to unexpected heights in a coming together which was unparalleled.
Every Saturday and Sunday, volunteer team organisers gather tens of thousands of boys and girls to play soccer and enjoy sport and physical activity. Their work comes in an era of many threats to the welfare of our youth from the sedentary life before screens, contributing to youth obesity, to the lure of drink and drugs, which can start a youngster on the road to ruin.
Please log in or register with Independent.ie for free access to this article.
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For all these reasons, it is heartbreaking to observe that the game faces into the year 2020 in a most parlous state, with even the FAI’s continued existence being called into question. The FAI’s interim crisis leader, Paul Cooke, has candidly told delegates to the reconvened AGM that the association’s position was very serious with a possibility of examinership or liquidation. This would have very dire consequences as the FAI president, Donal Conway, explained. If the FAI does go into examinership, it will raise doubts about the association’s continued membership of the international bodies Uefa and Fifa, with knock-on questions about participation in international competitions.
The meeting was told the board is working very hard to avoid that grim outcome. The FAI needs the forbearance of its bank creditors, support from its international umbrella bodies – and realistically taxpayers’ cash from the Government. A figure of €18m has been cited as necessary to keep the FAI from folding soon.
It is clearly time for Irish officialdom to look with some kindness on the organisation’s survival efforts – which is a very far cry from saying it is time for the Government to open the coffers and write blank cheques.
Worryingly, when he was asked if everything related to the FAI’s calamitous finances was now out in the open, Mr Conway said he could not rule out further revelations.
Clearly, all skeletons must be brought from the cupboard, and the final departure of all links to past management must happen before any further cash can be dispensed. It goes without saying that the toughest of conditions must be applied to any rescue plan and transparency must be at the heart of these conditions.
For the delegates who travelled to this reconvened AGM in Citywest yesterday, there were far more questions than answers. Some were mystified at how the financial situation could have been allowed continue over a period of three years without coming to light.
The only flicker of hope is that fundamental changes can be made after a very expensive lesson.
Source: Read Full Article