Labour calls on Sports Minister to intervene in FAI crisis to protect grassroots football
Labour calls on Sports Minister to intervene in FAI crisis to protect grassroots football - The Labour Party
The Labour Party Spokesperson on Sport Rob O’Donoghue TD has expressed his deep concern at the ongoing situation within the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and has urged the Minister for Sport to take immediate steps to assess the potential impact on grassroots football.
Speaking today Deputy O’Donoghue, said:
“The announcement by the FAI that it will implement major cuts in staff numbers to further a ‘transformation plan’, which it refuses to reveal even to its own employees, raises serious questions about governance, accountability and the future of football development in this country.
“While headlines may focus on management decisions and job cuts, the reality is that communities, volunteers, and young players at grassroots level will bear the brunt of changes which do not put the future of the game first.
“We cannot allow governance failures at the top of the FAI to cascade downwards and jeopardise the incredible work being done at community level.
“The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan must intervene, engage with all stakeholders, and put in place safeguards to protect grassroots football. The thousands of volunteers, players and communities who dedicate their time and energy to the game deserve no less.
“The Labour Party stands with those dedicated to grassroots football and the massive community benefits which come from it. We back the SIPTU members in the FAI and their ‘Our Union, Our Team’ campaign which has called for major reform of the FAI but strongly opposes the slash and burn approach of the senior management of the organisation, led in the main by people who have little background in the game in Ireland.
“Dealing with issues such as the long-term future of sport and the governance of state backed sporting bodies is why we have a Minister of Sport; he needs to make clear he is on top of his portfolio and engage in this issue immediately.”