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The Daily PollYESTERDAY, MINISTER for Sport Shane Ross announced details of the FAI’s refinancing arrangement aimed at saving the troubled organisation.
The association has been in the financial mire after a tumultuous year saw the departure of long-time chief executive John Delaney and the extent of its economic turmoil laid bare. Fears had been raised that the association itself may be in jeopardy given the extent of its debts.
Ross said that Sport Ireland’s funding would be restored to the FAI and doubled to €5.8 million each year from 2020 to 2023.
An interest-free loan of €2.5 million will also be provided each year to 2022. The minister said this “is not a bailout by any standard” yesterday, but it is clear the money comes at a vital time in the future of the organisation.
So, today we’re asking you: Was the government right to give bailout to the FAI?
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€20million cut to Disability Services, which is already on its knees and €20million magically found to bail out the FAI. NO I don’t think the government was right.
@Alva Cullen: Dont forget about RTE too. It’s a disgrace.
@Alan Wright: no problem, the people will take care of it!
@Alva Cullen: absolutely disgusting that people with disabilities have had funding cut so this corrupt organisation can continue. No justice in this world.
@Orla Cosgrave: Funding to people with disabilities wasn’t cut to fund the FAI. Be careful of what you read and it doesn’t help anyone to spread mis information. It’s a discrace that funding was cut to the disabled but it wasn’t done to fund the FAI.
@Alva Cullen: absolutely disgraceful, disgusting comment you make. What do you want 100,000s of kids across Ireland to lose funding for soccer programs and do you want the national teams to pull out of competitions across Europe and the World. They had no choice. They had to fund it and to say they took money from disabled people to do it is disengenious and completely wrong.
@Anthony Lambe: by the way it’s horrible that the government cut funding for disabled people it just has no bearing on FAI funding. They’re two seperate things.
@Manbackonboard: of course it was cut to find money for the fai and Rte, you can’t spend the same money twice , they have to stay within spending limits of the EU, but what they waste that money within the limits is up to the inept government of the day, the c0rrupt government thinks there’s more votes in rescuing the fai and rte than helping people with disabilities and special needs, a strong message needs to be sent to Ross and bruton on election day, but I won’t hold my breath!
@Alan Wright:The additional ten million euro top up given/awarded to RTE by the FG majority government in December assures the established parties FF & FG of being afforded a comfortable RTE media journey through this present election campaign. I do not have confidence in RTE acting in an independent and impartial manner in the course of this general election campaign. It is my view that RTE have been bought off.
@Alva Cullen: And lets nor forget Míchael Martin has promised the greyhound industry €16 million, while only promising €6 million to children’s mental health. The oul civil war parties, really have their priorities right !!!
@Alva Cullen: Did you enjoy getting all the the likes for your cheap populist rant. Have you no complaint with greyhounds getting 17 million in State funding. Do you want to collapse the FAI and put 200 people on the dole. Do you want to lose the 4 euro matches which would happen if no FAI. Thats over 100 million would be lost. All they are getting is 8.4 million over 3 years and a repayable loan. This for the largest team sport in Ireland.
The actual bail out comes from UEFA and Bank of Ireland who declined to reveal the details. This would not have happened without Govt intervention.
Delaney and his cronies are gone. I welcome the new start.
As for the disabled people they should be well looked after anyway and its not either or.
Enjoy your moment in the spotlight.
@Liam O Connor: They are doing whatever they can now while they’re in because they know they won’t be back…
@Alva Cullen: the problem govt is accountable to dail not us but the td in dail decided not to object to Kenny decision that b lenihan deal and money paid in loan did not req dail approval and in effect handed control of the monies loan monies and all to govt to deal with subject to terms of deal and commission role until 75 per cent of loan repaid.
Did Shane Ross seek dail approval of bail. Out don’t think so. B howlin had dail object to the money received from sale of aib shares to imf still a creditor according to dep records and taoiseach ignored and rightly so cos under const min has no power to expend money from p fund without legislation charging public fund for that object and no td challenged min decision to treat the deal made by lenihan as creating a debt without legislation for that purpose. And nor is their leg charging fund for fai. No wonder td are not making promises for dail they are making them for next taoiseach who is accountable to them but on term that he has control of fund subject to deal made by lenihan and anyone thinking bail. Out over it ain’t cos 75 per cent of loan monies paid into that fund not repaid and u no ts have left that with min and taoiseach also. And this election is about u endorsing your td decision and voting record or telling them it dail job to deliver on promises abd if that req, dail to impose a condition on next taoiseach to lay a bill before the dail on that deal and monie then so be it but it is dail accountable to us and stop selling govt to us promise.
@Anthony Lambe: but same fund and heavily burdened
@Mary Ward: Mary there’s a cream you can get for that!
Will Delaney be held accountable?
@BewaretheBeardies: Its Ireland! Just look at next weeks leaders debate! Forcing the two biggest muppets into our faces and not allowing the other 5 parties to take part! Not very democratic if ya ask me!
@Pád: The Tax Payer still has a voice in this. Stop buying the jersey and stop going to games until Delaney and the rest of the Directors are brought to justice. Just think of the money the Irish public have ploughed into the FAI over the past 30 years and now another €20 Million bailout plus the tax payer funding they get on top of that already..
@David Garland:
We also have a say in runs the country and keep voting back in the same Aholes that messed us around! We are a weak nation of people within no backbones to make a change!
@Pád: @Alan Wright:In reply to your question, yes when pigs fly……………
@Pád: Will he ****!
@Pád: Will he Fall Under Curious Koalas!
It’s only 4 letters really, but I wasn’t allowed!
@Pád: Certainly NOT.
I hope this is the last we might see of lord Ross
@The Equalizer: Can you imagine a world without Shane Ross?
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/531/930/8f6.gif
@The Equalizer: It would be bliss! No addition to people of Ireland or anywhere else for that matter.
@JusticeForJoe: ha ha ha excellent
@The Equalizer: To be fair, Dublin Rathdown does have a decent history of throwing out its previously elected idiots. The problem is it’s also the place that elected these idiots in the first place. Let’s just say I’m not exactly brimming with confidence.
Not necessarily against the bailout but I am against the moral hazard they’ve created. This says once again, by all means go ahead and run a corrupt organisation and reward yourself handsomely for years. When it all goes wrong you’ll have your name in the papers for a week and walk away a multimillionaire without punishment.
@The Guru: Yep, that’s exactly. Sometimes bailouts have to happen (although sometimes they don’t), but they should come with conditions plus updated laws built to punish people who commit the same mistakes as their predecessors. Also, why is nobody asking how the auditors missed what was essentially fudging of the numbers.
Send CAB in to see where the money went and have them do an audit on John Delaney while they are at it.
@MyBrokenKnees: it will never happen – plenty of brown envelopes circulated to keep that Muppet from being arrested and charged.
Off course it’s not right. Stupid question. If I lose my wages in Paddy Power, nobody bails me out. It’s just the Government condoning grand scale fraud and corruption once more.
@james dimaggio:
So just let the whole thing burn?
The entire grassroots setup, underage leagues, league of Ireland and elite programs.
Bans from UEFA & FIFA… There are tens of thousands involved in the game volunteers at all levels.
Rock and a hard place.
@Michael Cunningham: you are spot on but don’t expect any of the eternal moaners on here to agree with you
@Michael Cunningham: the entire grassroots setup cheered and sang for Delaney.
The only recipe for that is it make sure the pain is felt throughout the organisation. The old tired guys are all replaced and banned from holding any positions of authority from top to bottom – grass roots to the board.
They’ve brought Irish football to the bring of destruction. So they need to feel that. And everyone who replaces them needs to understand that the organisation isn’t their personal piggy bank.
@michael: all the structures you mentioned can be setup again within 2 years max with a new organisation. I cannot support an organisation that has suffered no consequences for squandering all the cash. Goverment interest is in stadium loan and helping the bank. All board members entitled to everything, but in a few months time when development officers are cut they will get nothing.
Ross is delighted he got his new crew of friends in there running things. Saw the maw mouth Quinn on TV, delighted for him. Let’s see Delaney collect his pension and walk away from the mess just like the bankers did 10 years ago. Nothing has changed
@The Equalizer: the bankers, zzzzz
@BewaretheBeardies: Yeah, you’re right, the bankers, huh? That was soo like, 7 seasons of Love Island ago, who remembers or cares?
It was just another example of a photo op for Shane Ross and other cronies who need votes.
Soccer is as corrupt as it gets.
@Madra: Were is it corrupt and to what level does the corruption go. As a person who has been involved at every level in one way or another and one who fought against the FAI Blazers my entire time.
There was stupidity and cronyism in the extreme but the game or its people are not corrupt.
@Gary Kearney: it’s not about corruption. Just like in the wider Irish public. It’s about acquiescence. It’s about being prepared to look the other way as long they get theirs.
Just a thought we seem to use taxpayers money to pay for crime no accountability
The government did not give a bailout to the FAI ! The ordinary taxpayers did …. again .
I know it will hurt but all future matches should be boycotted. Health service in shbles, roads in atrocious condition and in Cork a go fund me page set up for a little boy who needs nursing care in the little days he has left. Yet no one has been accountable for what went on in the FAI. People please think about what has happened to this country with FFG at the helm when voting.
@Dave Barrett: Future matches should be boycotted? Irish football fans have been boycotting them for decades. They watch English football.
Taxpayers should have to declare which English team they support, if any, and should be taxed accordingly, with a special penal rate on Man United fans. This would pay for the bailout. :)
@Frank Kenny: If you stand for election on that platform, you’ll get my vote
It wasn’t right but necessary.
@The Grand Nagus: “necessary”
Debatable. It’s a football association. Not exactly a vital service.
Then again, I don’t know what the cost of starting from scratch would be.
@Will: not a vital service? I disagree. The largest participation sport in the country! At a time when our kids are more obese than ever thanks to Xbox/PlayStation, I’d say it’s vital?
Record homelessness, violent crime is rampant, hospitals can’t cope with demand, budget cuts to vital services etc. but they don’t mind giving the most corrupt organisation on the island free millions because they pissed it all away. Absolute joke.
Leo said only a few weeks ago that he wouldn’t be asking the irish public to bail out the FAI and to be fair to him he didn’t ask them
No. An audit should be done and made public, I would like to know where all their money is going…
An organisation like FAI should be self sufficient to run by itself….. I do recognise that some funding should be given for the development of the game and its future… but let’s be honest a lot of our talent is developed by English Clubs sporting it at scouting level…
The timing doesn’t look great. Football had to be saved though. Ross looks like a total spanner now also
@Brian Dunne: that because he is one.
@Brian Dunne: brian I disagree I think Ross has done a decent job in this regard, maybe on other issues he hasn’t been great but with the FAI problem he handled it well i think.if you look at the change withholding funding has created with all the old guard now gone, new board members from other sectors coming in,a new president and ceo and new structures put in place that paves the way for a transparent approach to improving football in this country and without Ross withholding that funding and asking tough questions the old regime within the FAI might not have taken the fall from grace that they have. I wouldn’t be known for praising politicians as a rule because most are cronies but on this occasion I think it’s warranted.
Another example of how far out of touch our government is with the good hard working people of this country. I thought for once they would stick to their guns and set an example… but no … Monkey see, Monkey do…
And johnny is off living his happily ever after drinking tequilas and laughing
@Brian Dunne: all the wsy to tge banker – total w….k..
@Brian Dunne: all the way to the bank
ONLY IN IRELAND
How dare they !!!! , we have gone right back to the ff bailout days.
Our mental health budget has been slashed , how many homeless family’s could be housed , how many hospital beds could be supplied but no.
This utterly inept creature hands it to a sporting organisation.
I hope the votes reflect their actions.
… hands €37 million to Two sporting associations.
Shane Ross is quite correct, it is not a bail out bleeding brown envelope wrapped in a bow and sealed with a kiss
@Ger Hanley: love it
It’s not a bailout
*terms and conditions apply
@Clubhouse Barman.: give me a break – terms and conditions not worth the paper it is written on. All of these people are only in it for themselves
@Orla Cosgrave: you dont really get sarcasm?
Another reason to bash any FFG candidate calling to my door…
Yet another promise broken at taxpayers expense. Imagine how many children could have had their operations done or houses built. I’ve never been so angry. It’s a bailout by any dictionary’s definition. It should not be allowed to happen. Let them sort out their own mess.
@Lyndsay Rehn: imagine how many kids will join gangs and commit crime when football is taken away, imagine how obese kids will get when a vital source of exercise is taken away, imagine how sad kids would be when they can no longer play something they love and imagine a lot of those same scenarios and apply it to adults because football is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people young and old,yes money should be found for operations and houses and the FAI should absolutely be funded because football and sport in general is absolutely vital to the health and wellbeing of our kids and adults it’s not an either or situation. We’d have a hell of a lot more problems than a lack of operations and homelessness if the FAI were gone.
The Government didn’t bail them out. The taxpayer did. The phrase Government spending needs to stop. It’s always taxpayers money. Is Delaney paying in anything?
And they sell the rights to sky while RTE left out in the cold
They made two many f..k ups, time to leave for good bye bye
The FFG coalition bailed out the FAI because they reckon it will appease the football adoring peasants.
@Robin Basstard: Well in fairness it worked for Delaney, who found paying for free drink for the plastic Paddies abroad did wonders for his popularity in that particular constituency
NO!
Cruel cuts & dirty deeds, crucify our kids with special needs…
€30 million given to the GAA white elephant that is Pairc Ui Chaomh ..
Is it not more of a loan than a bailout? I’m happy enough once the miserable Ross is voted out. He has very little knowledge of sport or anything else for that matter.
This is morally wrong. Only in Ireland
Sport is grand, but crucial services like health, education and the Garda could do more with the money.
Should had left the FAI to die on the vine. Throwing good money after bad won’t save them, it just keeps the brain dead organisation on life support.
That’s got Ross out anyway, only bonus as I see it! Should’ve been liquidated & re-named. Call it a bailout not re-financing Leo – we’re not stupid; it’s our money after all
Absolute disgrace.
@BewaretheBeardies: you are aware this is Ireland right?
Yes it was the right thing to do. We are hosting games in the European Championships this Summer which will generate millions for the economy. We have to have an association in place to oversee that.
@GrumpyAulFella: Like holding the draw in Dublin was worth €20m? That particular canard was run up the flagpole by a Delaneyite AFTER the fall of the Dear Leader. Nobody saluted. Not a thing to back it up, just a projection made up by some millennial working for the ESRI or something. Well, that, or the figure was a complete fantasy created out of thin air by the FAI. Either way, no evidence has ever been produced to prove it’s true.
@brefanlfc: yeah probably but the games will generate revenue for the economy, estimated to be over €100m. It can’t be a bad thing for the country, tourism and our economy in general.
They made two many f..k ups, time to leave for good
One wonders how much money is used to support other sports, boxing, GAA, rugby, basketball, etc. and how this money supports these sports at ground level.
Of course there are limited resources but there are people wanting to spend an extra 600 million at least on an annial basis to provide free public transport, something else that not everyone wants or benefits from.
What was the alternative? Disband the FAI, disband rhe Irish international soccer teams, cancel all internationals including the Euro 2020 games scheduled for here?
Not sure of the correct answer but the Irish soccer teams have helped national pride and the FAI has new people at the helm so hopefully everything will be in order for the future and we have learned from the lessons of the past.
Disgraceful. Wonder why all of a sudden Shane Ross feels it’s ok to hand over 20m of taxpayers money? Oh I know, there is an election next Saturday !!!
€20 million didn’t just conveniently fall out of the sky, someone will be suffering at the other end.
Fai seems more important to government than people dying on hospital trollies
I hope this government does not get back in they wont give money for health and homeless yet they have no problem giving taxpayers money to RTE FAI bailing out banks disgusting despicable shower
How dare Shane Ross say that this isn’t a bail out, when we the normal Joe soaps clearly can see that is is, and we’ll pay for it from our taxes, while health services will suffer.
NO. NO. NO. Same as bailing out the banks, nobody held accountable, nobody fired, nobody jailed. Shur the taxpayer will fork out more cash. WE ARE SICK OF IT.
Full disgrace,Ross is a spineless,self serving tramp,Famalies sleeping in doorways,and taxpayers money paying for fraudsters birthday parties,you couldnt make this shit up.
It was important to fund the FAI to secure the jobs of people not responsible for the mess and now feel that John Delaney and his cronies should be brought before the courts and charged with corporate fraud.
Yes but only after Delaney was put in prison
Ah ireland, fod bless her and all who ride her
Can’t believe how the FAI are getting away with this. If it was the GAA they would get it in the neck from every soccer anti gaa head and the Donnybrook rugby elite. The red top British tabloid papers would have a field day. Disgraceful
Since when is a Loan a bailout ?
Ah but you don’t understand
These ministers will get exec seats at the internationals
Giving money to that crowd was wrong!
Totally wrong
It should have gone into liquidation
The assets could have been bought with taxpayers money a new unconnected board of directors appointed
The Minister Ross was negligent
Abuse of taxpayers money
Louder guys come on lets reverse this
Sport important for youth and general society stability.
So at last the question was asked how is the biggest participation sport in the country getting such a paltry sum in grants .Imagine dog racing gets 16 million and if the dogs can’t make the time they just get slaughtered, maybe all the alickadoos in that racket should have the funding stopped
This is all about feathering their backsides
Of course they were.. the organisation needs rebuilding and without the funds that would have been impossible.. now they need to learn from the mistakes of the past and build for the future
Just shows yet again where their priorities lie
Definitely Not
Why rush the week before Election ??
There are more than tens of thousands of children, adults and family carers with needs of their own. Is it ok for them to go without services in the name of sport? I don’t think so!
Sure we’re just waiting for the GAA story to break!
have your say