FAI - bizarre and contradictory
The inner workings of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
amaze me. Over the years the decisions by this august body have
not only been bizarre and often contradictory but often quite
simply wrong.
During the past decade, the FAI have presided over a revitalised
international squad, huge attendances at games and an
unparalleled level of national interests and general goodwill.
All these things the FAI can claim no credit for. It is widely
known that the selection of Jack Charlton as team manager was due
to a botched election process that was supposed to culminate with
Bob Paisley in the top job.
Over the years then, while savouring some measure of
international success at the 1988 Euro Championships and the two
subsequent World Cups, we also endured the uncompromising
monolith that the FAI is.
FAI failures
We have endured the failure of the FAI to move even the first
tentative steps towards building a quality soccer stadium for
international matches. We have witnessed the huge increases in
FAI revenues, the introduction of corporate marquees in
Landsdowne Road, while ordinary fans scramble among the touts for
tickets.
On top of that ticket prices have increased substantially while
at the same time the FAI has been rocked by scandals over botched
World Cup ticket sales. We have read about the resignations,
recriminations and infighting.
Last weekend the FAI gave another instalment in their litany of
bizarre decisions. At last Saturday's match between Iceland and
the 26-County team there was not only a minute's silence to mark
the death of Diana Spencer but the team also wore black armbands.
Loughinisland
Compare this to June 1994 when the same team won a crucial 1-0
victory over Italy at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey. That
night in Loughinisland, County Down six Irish supporters
watching the match in their local pub were murdered by a UVF
death squad.
At that time the FAI decided not to mark the murder of their own
soccer fans at the next game. There was no one minute's silence
and no armbands.
Granted that many of the current 26-County squad were born, live
and nearly all work in Britain and might have wanted to mark the
death, but one wonders how much choice they actually had over the
decision.
All in all it was a giant step backwards for the FAI and Irish
soccer. In fact it was another own goal and they are well used to
that by now
Playoffs beckon
On the field though at least there was some positive outcome in
the 4-2 victory over Iceland. There is no doubt that this current
squad is no less competent than any of the Hand or Charlton eras.
Recent matches though have been a litany of error and an overall
lack of application.
Saturday's game was strange because the chances of the team
scoring one goal, let alone four seemed remote. As we go to print
the Lithuania result is still unclear, but it seems likely that
the team will claim a play-off spot. Whether they can go any
further does not really seem likely.
Mick McCarthy does not seem to have moved towards solving the
problems of the Charlton era, principally the lack of ability to
score goals. In fact the lack of a cohesive defence seems to add
only another problem.
If December brings exit from the World Cup, maybe then it is time
for the FAI to discuss terms with Brian Kerr for the top job. His
ability to mould the junior team at last summer's U 20 World Cup
shows clearly his ability. The chances of the FAI taking such a
positive step though seem remote.