Cllr O’Brien secures spot on National League Committee
CLLR Paul O’Brien was elected onto the National League Executive Committee at the recent FAI AGM.
The Labour man is the current National President of the Irish Soccer Referees Society and will be stepping down from that role in September having served the two-term maximum allowed.
While his election comes at a time of crisis for the FAI as the debt-ravaged association struggles to stay afloat, Cllr O’Brien said he hopes to make a difference.
‘It is easy to sit on the fence and throw stones, but that’s not going to resolve the difficulties facing the FAI and it certainly isn’t me,’ said Cllr O’Brien.
‘I want to try and make a positive difference. That is why I allowed my name go forward for election onto the National League Executive Committee. The reality is that the games enjoyed by so many have to continue. The staff in the FAI, who have done nothing wrong, have to be employed and the sport must be managed. So, when this opportunity presented itself I allowed my name to go forward for election.’
In March it emerged that the former FAI CEO John Delaney loaned the association €100,000, without the knowledge of most of the board members and stakeholders. It has since been revealed that the association faces debts of over €62 million and sought an €18 million bailout from Minister of Sports Shane Ross.
Cllr O’Brien said he is saddened by the crisis engulfing the FAI, the possible repercussions and the impact on those who love the game.
‘The reality is, if the FAI goes into liquidation, we could lose our place on the world stage and be banned from playing international football,’ said Cllr O’Brien.
‘The Irish supporters have been voted the best supporters in the world on numerous occasions and yet some are calling for this, which is crazy. The damage this could lead to could take years to recover from and affect all aspects of the game, including grassroots football.
‘I know plenty of decent people involved in the game, the real stakeholders, and they just want what is best for our sport, as do I. To see this crisis engulf the association is heartbreaking but be under no illusion – it was self inflicted. But its one we must recover from.’
Cllr O’Brien has not been enamoured with the Minister for Sport’s handling of the situation and is calling on him to ‘sit down with all the stakeholders and get this crisis resolved, purely for the sake of the game and the many decent people involved.’
He would also like to see a clear-out at the FAI, where he believes many people have held their positions ‘for far too long’.
‘The new board needs the time and space to manage the crisis and restore the associations reputation and fortunes,’ said Cllr O’Brien.
‘Finally, I think the footballing family needs to come together and unite, not tear ourselves apart and those that know nothing about the sport need to stop trying to pointscore for their own gain.’
While Cllr O’Brien’s position as National President of the Irish Soccer Referees Society ends in September, he will be kept busy with his work as a Councillor, as well as focusing on his upcoming General Election campaign.
Despite having a lot on his plate, Cllr O’Brien said that football is something that’s close to his heart and the chance to help turn the current crisis around was too important to turn his back on.
‘Soccer is the biggest participant sport in the country and if I can help it in anyway I will. Some people will say I’m mad and that it’s a poison chalice, but to me the stakes are too high, others might say I’m only jumping on the bandwagon - the reality is I won’t get paid for doing this and I can assure my constituents that my county council work will always come first,’ he said.
A MAN facing four road traffic charges told Arklow District Court that he was driving under instruction from his employer.
Gint Grosevs (21), 15 Ashgrove, Arklow, faces charges of driving without a licence, no insurance, failure to produce a driving licence and failure to produce proof of insurance at Croghan Industrial Estate, Arklow on August 17, 2018.
Mr Grosevs was accompanied to court last Wednesday by a friend who also acted as an interpreter.
The defendant told the court he wished to plead not guilty and said that he had been stopped at work while driving a car that was going to be scrapped.
When Judge John Cheatle asked if Mr Grosevs had spoken to a solicitor yet, the defendant said he had not received legal advice. Judge Cheatle asked solicitor Padraig Hyland to speak with the defendant.
After consulting with the defendant, Mr Hyland told the court that Mr Grosevs said he was driving after an instruction from his employer. He worked locally in scrap metal and had been moving the vehicle from a car park to the recycling plant in an industrial park when he was stopped. Mr Hyland also made an application for a court interpreter to be appointed.
The prosecution said the defendant would need to show documents to prove his claim. Judge Cheatle adjourned the case for a hearing on February 12 and agreed to the request to appoint a Latvian interpreter.