A member of the FAI Council has taken the extraordinary step of writing to FIFA and UEFA over concerns about how the game is being currently administered.
Nixon Morton, a member of the FAI Schools National Executive, wrote to Sarah Solemale, FIFA's Governance Services Manager and Yann Hafner, UEFA's Statutory Regulatory Expert.
In January, the FAI, led by new independent chairperson Roy Barrett, agreed a rescue package with the Irish government, the banks and UEFA so that Irish football would survive in the wake of the publication of the Association's accounts in December that revealed liabilities of €55 million in the wake of John Delaney's resignation as Chief Executive.
Morton is concerned about the Memorandum of Understanding that stipulated reforms to the structure of the FAI following the rescue deal, including an expansion of independent directors on the FAI board to six and a requirement that FAI Council members that have served ten years or more should step down this summer.
In his submission, Morton said that the terms of the rescue deal with the FAI board will result in a 'loss of sovereignty' and he went on to argue that 'a number of my Senior Council colleagues and other members across football are very concerned by what is happening to the game in Ireland under the stewardship of the existing Interim Board.'
Morton has raised questions over the manner of the appointments of Barrett, interim CEO Gary Owens and interim deputy CEO and former Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn.
The Council has 79 members. An AGM is scheduled for Galway on July 25th, with an EGM due to take place before that which would facilitate the voting on amendments so that Government funds could be released to provide vital assistance to an Association that is under further pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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