Shadows of the past show the distance left to run

The FAI have taken many missteps over the years, but on Sunday night they made a wise decision.

The Republic of Ireland's player media day at the team's Castleknock Hotel base was cancelled, with FAI interim CEO David Courell instead facing the cameras to address the findings of a joint report from RTÉ Investigates and The Sunday Independent.

Under bright blue skies, Courell solemnly apologised to the former women's international players, and female trainees on a FÁS soccer course, who experienced alleged unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances from FAI coaches in the 1990s.

"We need to redouble our efforts and make sure that an awareness of existing safeguarding protocols are fully understood, fully respected," said Courell, "and that people feel and know that they have somewhere to go to if they have an issue."

The story was driven by the unflinching courage of those involved to revisit old traumas and drag cultural failings into the light. Their unity will change the landscape. Precautionary measures have already been put in place to protect current players, while a safeguarding awareness campaign called 'Play It Right' has been launched.

Still, Courell's admission that no official FAI policy around relationships between players and coaches currently exists in the domestic club game underscored the work that has yet to be done.

Scrapping the media day meant current players weren't lightning rods for the latest storm around the association.

Ordinarily there'd be a drip feed of stories in print and online over the next few days looking forward to the Girls In Green's Euro 2025 qualifier against England at Carrow Road.

Now, the build-up will be overshadowed by questions, debate and discourse surrounding historical inadequacies