The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has not yet actioned the suggestions proposed in a self-financed 2022 independent report by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA). The critique stated that the governing framework of the Schoolboys/Girls Football Association of Ireland (SFAI) is “deficient in multiple areas”. They believe that Marc Canham’s athlete progression blueprint, once fully implemented, should amend a large portion of what Canham describes as the “uneven handling of youth football in Ireland”.
Meanwhile, senior FAI affiliates are set to engage with SFAI leaders on Monday to mitigate an existing conflict involving the Schoolboys’ committee and the Dublin and District Schoolboys/Girls’ League (DDSL). The DDSL, which services nearly 50,000 young athletes and is Ireland’s largest youth league, received news from their football director, Barry Ferguson, last week. Ferguson told the advanced under-14 teams that their presence at the upcoming Gaynor and Kennedy cups in Limerick would not be required.
This disagreement is primarily due to the DDSL’s refusal to contribute affiliation costs for the preceding three years, arguing a lack of representation within SFAI’s governing body. One parent, preferring to remain unnamed, shared their concerns: “Regardless of my daughter’s league or cup participation, my main focus is that she is treated fairly. The administration seems fractured and lacks cohesion. Many girls this age stop playing sports due to academic commitments, like the Junior Certificate.”
Back in 2022, the FAI requested the IPA to scrutinise SFAI governance. Following interviews with 17 stakeholders in Irish football, amongst them ex-FAI CEO Jonathan Hill and present board members Tom Browne and Ursula Scully, 11 suggestions were proposed to both the FAI and the SFAI to promote effective governance. Within the FAI board, Browne represents the SFAI.
According to the IPA investigation, a majority of those interviewed agreed that the SFAI’s current rulebook was “unfit and needs reform”.
The absence of a strategic plan for the SFAI has triggered worries over accountability, orientation and long-term goals, according to the latest report. Discussing the prevailing “culture,” the document noted that SFAI meetings’ “atmosphere and standpoint” occasionally sparked confrontations on matters, potentially creating a situation where some participants aim to monopolise the discussion.
The report also highlighted, under the “Girls” section, the necessity for the SFAI to officially acknowledge the role of schoolgirls’ teams and leagues within their regulations. It further asserted that schoolgirls football deserves to be a fundamental aspect of SFAI’s mission, outlook, and strategic focus, to enhance an environment of greater equality and inclusivity.
This review’s prime recommendation is the immediate initiation of a process to settle on a strategic plan for the SFAI, one which aligns with FAI’s 2022-2025 strategy. Neither the SFAI nor the FAI made a comment on this issue.
In a separate matter, members of Siptu in the FAI are scheduled to meet with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) this Friday to solve their ongoing salary dispute with the association. Paul Keogh, the Siptu shop steward at FAI, expressed that although they have encountered numerous problems in the past, the workers’ right to negotiate collectively with their employer should not be problematic. He stated that considering the FAI has collectively negotiated with referees, The Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland, and the senior national team’s women, their staff simply wants to be treated equally. The proposed salary increment, according to Mr. Keogh, reflects the association’s financial situation, of which they are well aware.