FAI decline to attend Oireachtas hearing without ‘assurances’ around Garda investigation

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has declined a second invitation to appear before the joint Oireachtas sport committee, citing concerns that questions from politicians could prejudice an ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána.

The FAI were due before the committee chaired by former Labour leader Alan Kelly next Wednesday in Leinster House.

The main topic on the agenda was to be the FAI’s safeguarding policies and procedures.

A deferment was agreed last July to allow the association “adequate preparation time, given the complexity introduced by the committee seeking material that relates directly to an ongoing Garda investigation”.

The FAI now claim they were denied requested assurances from the Oireachtas committee that its members would avoid asking about the ongoing investigation into alleged abuse by a male coach of female players in the 1990s.

“It is deeply worrying that the FAI have this afternoon withdrawn from this scheduled appearance at our committee,” said Mr Kelly. “The letter the committee received from the FAI does not in any way explain why they have chosen to take this course.

“In the FAI correspondence, there is a constant reference to the ‘stated position’ of An Garda Síochána in relation to some FAI-related issues being investigated.

“These are not a matter for the committee. The operation of an Oireachtas committee isn’t a matter for An Garda Síochána either.

“No Oireachtas committee would ever operate if a precedent was set by the manner in which the FAI have used such Garda correspondence in its refusal to attend the Oireachtas committee.

“The committee will have to correspond with the Minister for Sport in relation to all these matters given that the taxpayer, through the Government, ultimately funds the FAI.”

Another factor in the FAI decision to decline the invitation came after the committee sought the attendance of three extra FAI employees - the former Republic of Ireland women’s head coach Eileen Gleeson, communications manager Gareth Maher and the head of child welfare and safeguarding, Kirsten Pakes.

The latest invitations indicate the committee’s intention to mention the ongoing Garda investigation, an FAI spokesperson said to The Irish Times.

Ms Gleeson is currently taking legal action against the FAI on the grounds of gender discrimination.

The FAI have also withheld documents requested by the committee, apparently out of concern that providing them could hinder the Garda investigation.

“What the FAI are suggesting is alarming as they have called into question our integrity as a committee,” said Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn. “We gave assurances that we would not discuss individual cases.

“It is also alarming that not only have the FAI declined additional witnesses from attending, they have withdrawn from the process entirely.”

In July 2024, gardaí opened an investigation into a male football coach following allegations published in a joint investigation by the Sunday Independent and RTÉ into alleged abuse of female players.

The FAI does not intend to appear before the committee until the Garda investigation is concluded.

The association’s chief executive David Courell, chair of the board Tony Keohane, president Paul Cooke and the FAI’s head of people and culture, Aoife Rafferty, had been expected to attend next week.

Instead, the committee will write to Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan to discuss the actions of a sporting body that is seeking an additional €8 million in the 2026 budget to fund professional club academies.

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