Delaney’s credit card spending under scrutiny
ALL John Delaney’s credit card spending over his 14 years as FAI CEO will be investigated as part of Mazars’ scrutiny into the association’s finances. Following reports that Delaney spent €40,000 on his employer’s credit card in one six-month period alone in 2016, it remains to be seen what the final total was for the association which now finds itself starved of state funding. The Mazars team will also focus on a €60,000 outlay in 2014 to a third party described by the FAI as ‘professional fees’, as well as the specific details of Delaney’s €100,000 loan to the FAI in 2017, which sparked off the controversy. Before slipping into the shadows, the surviving members of the FAI board, headed by president Donal Conway, said they are committed to reform. In tandem with Aidan Horan, the newly-appointed head of the Governance Review Group of the FAI, and Sport Ireland, the remaining directors will shape a strategy for a new hierarchy. When agreed, the proposed rule changes will be put to an
EGM of members for approval in advance of the AGM on July 27 in Trim. It seems likely interim CEO Rea Walshe will continue in her role until then. One or two directors may consider going forward again but long-serving directors Conway, Jim McConnell, Paraic Treanor and Eamon Naughton are tainted by the scandal. ‘The board of the FAI must lead the organisation, not the chief executive. That is a lesson that everyone within the FAI has learned,’ stressed Sport Ireland chief John Treacy. Delaney is on paid ‘gardening leave’ while the Mazars enquiry runs its course but the FAI cannot prevent the former CEO from sitting in the best seat in the house as Ireland host the UEFA U17 Championships next month. As a member of the UEFA Executive Committee and Head of UEFA’s Youth Committee, Delaney is entitled to a reserved VIP seat at all games. Meanwhile, Waterford’s return to European competition may be checked after St Patrick’s Athletic raised an issue with the FAI on UEFA Club Licensing, in writing. Waterford finished fourth last season to qualify for the Europa League, but under UEFA rules a club must exist for three years to compete in UEFA competitions. The Blues were reformed as a new company after owner Lee Power took over in late 2016. If Waterford are not granted a UEFA licence, St Pat’s would be next in line. In 2012, the restructured Derry City were denied a place in the Europa League despite FAI entreaties to UEFA. The draw for the first and second qualifying rounds of the Europa League are set to take place on June 18/19.