Face to Face at Last - Government and FAI

At least they are talking face to face and not just through the medium of media statements. Regardless of how the conversation went last night between Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin and the Board of the FAI, that has to be seen as progress.

The meeting between the Ministers and six of the Directors of the FAI, all of whom were elected after the scandals that have rocked the Association were broken but not the seventh sitting Director President Donal Conway, took place at Government Buildings last night.

They ran for 90 minutes, an appropriate time for a conversation about the future of the sports administration. The importance now will lie in how quickly the next stage of engagement can be put in place.

Both sides issued statements after the meeting and both of which are carried in full below.

Money was central to the conversation, once the Ministers had satisfied themselves that those before them were willing to take on the responsibility for cleaning up the mess that has been left behind in the wake of John Delaney’s reign.

Key points

On four key points – the resignation of previous directors, the need for a change of culture, the urgent need for the appointment of an independent Chair and directors and of a new CEO, there was an acceptance of their importance.

It is expected that the directors will have stressed the role of all parties in creating calm as a prerequisite of the already identified Chair and Directors consenting to their public naming.

The importance of a degree more certainty will also be critical in the decisions currently being made about the restructuring of the FAI’s financial position.

Minister Ross spoke last night of the Government not being willing to bail out the FAI but it is more likely that assurances will be sought as to future support in terms of underwriting agreements from UEFA as the Governing Body rather than from the Government.

That would be backed up by the announcement that engagement between the Government and UEFA was now being pursued as a matter of urgency.

Assurances

It is likely that UEFA will seek assurances as to the independence of the FAI to remain as the governing body for the sport in Ireland and also clarification on Government’s seeming willingness to enter into discussions over breaking up the governance of football into an elite and a grassroots pathway.

UEFA’s long-standing insistence on complete independence from government interference is backed up by its rules.

If it felt that Ministerial statements were influencing the way the FAI was able to govern it retains the right to suspend the Republic of Ireland from all international competition.

If it can be assured that this is not the case then it is likely that it will provide the level of confidence that the banks would seek to support new financing arrangements over a longer-term period which would serve to provide breathing space to resolve the financial issues the FAI has been left in.

Last night was an important step but it was like the rolling of the ball from the goalkeeper to his or her left-back. The important thing now is the next pass and how a series of moves can lead to a successful outcome.

Text of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Statement issued at 2101 last night:

Tonight Ministers Ross and Griffin, with their officials, met with 5 directors and Vice President Paul Cooke, with their financial advisers from Grant Thornton, in Leinster House.

The FAI directors accepted the need for all previous directors to exit.
The FAI directors accepted the need for a full change of culture in the organisation.
The FAI directors accepted the need for the independent Chair and directors to be appointed urgently.
The FAI directors accepted the need for the appointment of an independent CEO without undue delay.

The Ministers reiterated that the FAI is in a dark place, the brand has been damaged and much work needs to be done.

Minister Ross & Griffin have said;

“The KOSI report stated that an unreformed FAI was unfit to receive government funding. That process of reform is still far from complete.

The government cannot provide direct financial support to the FAI. We are finalising a mechanism to get our youth field programme funding to the front line. Our priorities are players at every level, staff in the organisation, volunteers across the country and supporters.

We will be seeking an early meeting with UEFA in the coming days to intensify the search for a solution to the deep problems inflicted on the FAI.”

Text of the FAI Statement issued at 2124 last night:

The Board of the Football Association of Ireland has thanked Sports Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin for an open and honest meeting at Leinster House this evening.

A six-strong delegation from the Board, led by interim Executive Lead Paul Cooke, met with the two Ministers and leading Department of Sport officials for over 90 minutes.

“The talks were constructive,” said Cooke afterwards. “We outlined our position as regards the current financial situation at the FAI, our ongoing governance reforms and culture change and where we go from here.

“We stressed how the immediate focus of the Board and the Association has to be on the financial restructuring necessary to safeguard jobs, the FAI’s financial future and the appointment of an Independent Chairperson and three Independent Directors.

“We look forward to engaging further with the Ministers and the Department of Sport as we agree on the next steps.”