11 September 1997 Edition
Sportsview: 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.
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.