FAI to tell Oireachtas it has 'reformed significantly'

In its opening statement on Wednesday the FAI will tell the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Media that the association has "reformed significantly".

It's been another rocky month for the FAI.

They had originally been due to address the committee a month ago to discuss their ambitious Facility Investment Vision and Strategy, which aims to overhaul the footballing infrastructure in the country.

The session was postponed because it clashed with the Republic of Ireland's friendly against New Zealand on 22 November, which proved to be Stephen Kenny's final game at the helm.

Discussions at the Oireachtas will now likely be dominated by non-football issues following a tumultuous six weeks.

In early November, Sport Ireland delayed the release of State funding to the FAI amid concerns about governance and reforms.

A Sport Ireland-commissioned audit identified that the FAI's Jonathan CEO Hill received payments - made to him in lieu of holidays not taken and expenses related to commuting from the UK - that 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 agreed to repay the sum; Sport Ireland later released the funding.

At the FAI's AGM last Saturday, former independent chairman Roy Barrett said that he made the decision that Hill should be paid in lieu of holidays.

Delegates at an EGM earlier in the day approved an extension of the board from 12 to 14 members in a vote which ensures the FAI met gender balance requirements set out by Government - another crucial reform to align with the terms of the MoU.

All of this will be up for discussion on Wednesday, with Hill expected to deliver the FAI's opening statement, which has