FAI MAN SENDS LETTER OF ‘CONCERN’

Council member Morton writes to FIFA & UEFA over direction association is taking

FIFA and UEFA have heard of ‘concerns’ some FAI Council members claim to have over the direction the association is going.

The World and European governing bodies received seven-page documents on Thursday from council member Nixon Morton, highlighting a number of issues.

Yesterday, that submission was circulated to the full FAI Council but it is unclear how many of his 78 colleagues he is speaking for.

In his cover letter to FIFA and UEFA,

Morton wrote: “Like a number of my Senior Council colleagues and other members across football we are very concerned by what is happening to the game in Ireland under the stewardship of the existing Interim Board.”

In March, FIFA received an anonymous complaint from amateur football ranks in Ireland, critical of terms agreed in January’s €20million bailout for football here. This fresh submission also addresses the Memorandum of Understanding set out by the Government on that rescue package.

It read: “There are a number of elements which can have potentially serious implications for the governance and administration of football in Ireland. Notwithstanding the presence of a UEFA official at the signing of this document, were UEFA and FIFA given timely sight of this document before the signing?

“Should all of the key stakeholders not have had sight of this document and thereby afforded the opportunity to fully understand its implications?”

The process of appointing interim chief executive Gary Owens and interim deputy chief executive Niall Quinn (inset) is also questioned.

The Morton document notes that Owens, Quinn and interim FAI chair Roy Barrett were associates in the so-called ‘Visionary Group’ previously fronted by Quinn.

The submission added: “The concern being expressed here is…did this process meet the highest standards of Governance? We are not questioning the abilities of those appointed or their commitment to the game of football in Ireland.

“A related matter here is the very long time it appears to be taking to appoint a full-time person to the role of CEO of the FAI.”

The submission also queries the increase from four to six of independent directors on the FAI board, as demanded by Minister

Shane Ross. “Acceptance of this proposed Board structure would result in the Board of the FAI, uniquely amongst the 211 National Associations under the jurisdiction of FIFA, being potentially under the control of outside interests which may disregard the views of the democratically elected Football directors,” added Morton’s document.

The document was sent to FIFA’S Sarah Solemale and UEFA’S Yann Hafner. According to the ‘summary and conclusion’ section, it was compiled to “give a sense of grave and genuine concerns we have for the future of the game in Ireland”.

It continued: “As ordinary football people we resolutely object to the new conditions being foisted upon us.

“We see the need for change, the requirement for reform, but do not think it is necessary to cede ownership of the game of football to outside interests.”

The FAI: “The Board is aware of the letter and has no comment to make.”