FAI regret issues arising from payments to CEO Jonathan Hill

The FAI has vowed to learn lessons in relation to payments made to chief executive Jonathan Hill and has also pledged to find a solution to its requirement to have 40% female representation on its board.

A Sport Ireland-commissioned audit identified that the FAI's CEO Hill received payments, which were made to him in lieu of holidays not taken and expenses related to commuting from the UK, were above an agreed limit set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the FAI, which led to the association's bailout in 2020.

Hill has agreed to repay the sum.

In a statement, the association expressed regret at the payments and pledged to implement recommendations.

"Regarding the MOU clause relating to CEO remuneration, the Board has conducted a full and detailed review of the issue with the Executive," the FAI said.

"The Board regret what happened and are committed to ensuring the lessons learned are fully adopted.

"The Board and the Executive team fully accept the recommendations of the report from Sport Ireland and are committed to implementing the recommendations immediately."

Meanwhile, regarding female representation on its board, the required 75% majority to pass a proposal to make a constitutional change that would allow for the addition of two female members to the board was not reached when it was put before delegates at an EGM last week.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, the FAI are required to have 40% female representation on the board by the end of this year.

Subsequently, Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne warned the FAI that they would face a 50% cut in funding for projects next year if they do not implement promised governance reform, noting that 155 of 163 agreed reforms had