FAI to receive €6m a year in funding as part of new MoU agreement

The government has signed off a new Memorandum of Understanding with the FAI, agreeing to fund the association to the tune of €6m a year until the end of 2027.

As part of the deal, the FAI is required to continue to make reforms to its internal governance structures as well as reviewing and reforming its grassroots leagues at amateur and underage level.

There are 16 conditions the FAI must accept as part of the new MoU. They include continuing to provide that 50% of board members (including the Independent chairperson) will be independent directors; and providing "complete and transparent financial reports" to Sport Ireland that allow for the monitoring and oversight of the FAI's financial and cash flow position by the end of each quarter.

The MoU also details that an additional €1m of funding will be allocated this year for the purposes of "football development".

The original MoU between the government and the FAI expired at the end of 2023, having been put in place at the beginning of 2020 amidst the financial collapse of the association following former CEO John Delaney's departure.

The MoU included a total rescue package of €30.8m and came with 163 recommendations and conditions.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin confirmed today that of those 163 conditions, 159 had been either completed or partially completed.

"If the FAI had been allowed to fail following its financial collapse, the consequences would have been catastrophic for Irish football at every level, from our international teams to grassroots and schools football," said Minster Martin.

"The previous MoU not only provided the association with financial stability but also brought about the necessary governance reforms