The Government has warned of “damaging” consequences for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) if it does not impose reforms agreed during the State’s €30 million bailout of the organisation earlier this year. Board members raised this at talks this week between the FAI board, Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and Minister of State Jack Chambers, along with their officials and senior figures from Sport Ireland. Following the meeting, the department said that if funding cannot be released, “the alternative will be extremely damaging for the FAI and its members”. ClashesPolitical sources are concerned that the clashes at FAI board level, and the resistance to implementing the deal, could derail the wider rescue programme. “The current board of the FAI now has an opportunity to show strong leadership in delivering this change,” she said.

Source: The Irish Times July 30, 2020 00:00 UTC