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John Delaney Offers To Step As...

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John Delaney Offers To Step Aside From FAI

Jonathan Duane
Jonathan Duane

06:07 15 Apr 2019


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The move is pending the completion of an independent investigation by the Association into issues of concern to the board.

John Delaney has offered to step aside from his role as Executive Vice President at the FAI with immediate effect, while an independent investigation by the Association takes place. 

The Former CEO came under fire after it emerged that he had loaned the organisation €100,000 in 2017, and failed to answers questions about the loan at a Dail Committee. 

Following a meeting of the board today, Honorary Secretary Michael Cody and Honorary Treasurer Eddie Murray have both voluntarily resigned. 

The meeting also ordered a sub-committee, set up to review Governance and finances, to press ahead with its work as a matter of urgency. 

Here's The Full Statement from the Board of the Football Association of Ireland:

The Board of the Football Association of Ireland met in Dublin today. Following that meeting, the sub-committee of the Board met with Executive Vice-President John Delaney.

John Delaney has offered to voluntarily step aside from carrying out his role as Executive Vice-President with immediate effect pending the completion of an independent investigation by the Association into issues of concern to the Board.

Honorary Secretary Michael Cody and Honorary Treasurer Eddie Murray have both voluntarily resigned from the Board.

The Board would like to thank Michael Cody and Eddie Murray for their long service to Irish football and wish them well after their voluntary resignations.

The meeting of the Board also mandated the sub-committee, set up to review Governance and recently publicised financial transactions, to press ahead with their work as a matter of urgency. The FAI will update Sport Ireland on all developments ahead of the meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport tomorrow. 

The Board of the Association wishes to assure members, football supporters and all stakeholders and sponsors that it is expediting all processes designed to restore faith in the Football Association of Ireland.

The Board acknowledges all concerns raised by stakeholders and supporters and is working to ensure that all Government funding is restored to Irish football at the earliest opportunity.
 

Controversy. 

Last Tuesday, Sport Ireland suspended its funding of the FAI.

This decision came ahead of the association's opening statement to the Joint Committee of Transport, Tourism and Sport which Sport Ireland said acknowledged a breach of the terms and conditions of Grant Approval. 

50 per cent of this year's €2.7 million in funding had already been paid, but the rest will be withheld until all reports into the loan have been delivered and acted upon. 

Frustrations.

 Former Irish great John Giles branded it as "one of the worst weeks for Irish football."

John Giles Photo - RTE

The former Ireland international was speaking after FAI officials spent eight hours before an Oireachtas Sport Committee on Wednesday.

They faced questions about governance and the loan former CEO John Delaney gave the body in 2017. 

Earlier, the FAI revealed it was at risk of having "insufficient funds" in April 2017, leading to former CEO John Delaney providing a personal cheque for "immediate financial relief"

The money was repaid in June 2017, and the FAI board was told about the payment on March 4th 2019.

Former CEO John Delaney repeatedly refused to answer questions about a €100,000 loan he gave the organisation in 2017  saying he' was "constrained due to legal advice." Many committee members were left frustrated that questions were being avoided, particularly around the 100-thousand euro loan.

Political Pressure 

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar,

On Friday The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's made his first comments on the controversy surrounding the Football Association of Ireland saying that "The FAI has questions to answer so Sport Ireland funding can be restored."


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