The general secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI), Stephen McGuinness, has welcomed a suggestion devised by FAI staff members, that the state would fund a new body that would solely govern grassroots and community football. The FAI would continue to look after the international representative teams and elite football. The plan suggests that the Government would provide €10m each year to fund development officers and coaches at youth level while the FAI would fund itself through commercial deals. He said it was fortunate that his association is run separately from the FAI. “We were never offered support from the FAI, we’re now glad that we run our business separately.”

Source: Irish Examiner December 12, 2019 10:41 UTC