The Minister for Sport Shane Ross has confirmed the news today that the entire board of the Football Association of Ireland intends to step down.
The Minister says the FAI has indicated the entire board will resign after the recent controversy over governance.
He’s appearing before an Oireachtas Committee today alongside Sport Ireland to discuss the issues.
Minister Ross says the appearance by the FAI at the committee last week was ‘shambolic’.
The committee is meeting to hear about the ongoing financial and governance issues at the association.
Earlier the chair of the Oireachtas Sport Committee said the whole FAI board should resign. Fergus O’Dowd the step was necessary as they’ve ‘lost credibility.’
Yesterday, two FAI board members resigned their positions while John Delaney stepped aside as executive vice president while a review is carried out.
Speaking to the committee, the Minister said:
‘’I welcome that the FAI is engaging with Sport Ireland in a process, and that they have now indicated that the board will step down.’
‘Given the ever growing lack of public confidence in the FAI, this move is to be welcomed and is hopefully the first step on the road to rebuilding trust in this important NGB.’
‘I can add that there will be no further Government funding for the FAI until we see real change and reform in the association’s corporate governance, and until we have credible answers.’
‘I will be closely monitoring developments on corporate governance and the conditions which must be met before Sport Ireland’s funding to the Association is reinstated.’, he continued.
‘In this regard, no new capital payments will be made by my Department to the FAI. On the new board it would be appropriate to include representatives of the players (both male and female), supporters, coaches, volunteers and leagues.’
