'Technical issues' throw FAI AGM into chaos with delegates unable to vote

The resumed Football Association of Ireland AGM, which was a virtual gathering of delegates, was thrown into chaos on Thursday night when a vote to ratify the appointment of directors was deferred as the meeting was unable to validate the votes due to "technical issues".

The 89 delegates representing various strands of football throughout the country were sent emails to allow them to vote but many reported to the meeting that the virtual ballot papers landed in spam or junk folders.

A one time passcode was sent to those delegates who did receive their mail in order to allow them to exercise their franchise but one delegate complained that the code was received 13 times and still didn't work.

Others complained that they couldn’t access the emails on iPhones or computers.

The meeting was called because during the original AGM in July, the FAI was unable to satisfy the gender quota balance required under the memorandum of understanding with Government, which called for a 40% female representation on the board by 2023.

That memorandum of understanding led to the bailout of the association, following the revelations of financial difficulties under previous CEO John Delaney.

At the Mansion House in Dublin in July, only two of the 12 FAI board of directors were female.

Last month, Niamh O’Mahony was elected through the professional chamber to replace Richard Shakespeare but her appointment along with that of Packie Bonner and independent directors Tom Browne, Gary Twohig and Robert Watt could not be ratified because of the voting issues.

FAI chairman Roy Barrett admitted afterwards that it was very disappointing that the voting system didn't function properly and that the right and proper thing to do was to suspend the vote and come