Furious FAI insist Ahern honours his cash pledge

FURIOUS soccer chiefs told the Taoiseach to live up to his promise of delivering a National Stadium following the Government’s decision not to spend taxpayers’ money on the project.

The Football Association of Ireland also clashed with Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy over grants pledged to the organisation, warning that commitments made cannot be broken. FAI president Milo Corcoran said the stadium decision would have serious consequences for the future of football. “The absence of exchequer funding for Stadium Ireland is an absolutely major blow for football in this country,” he said.

Also yesterday, the Olympic Council of Ireland joined in the criticism of the Government climbdown, saying that Ireland’s record of providing sports facilities was worse than many Third World countries.

Demanding a showdown meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the future of the stadium and related grants, FAI general secretary Brendan Menton said the Government had committed to providing two stadia for the bid to host the European football championships in 2008. The National Stadium deal was worth up to €135 million to the FAI over the next 10 years. The Taoiseach personally promised special grants of €57.15 million over the next three years in return for backing the National Stadium.

But only €19.05 million has been paid and a major question mark hangs over the payment of the remainder after Mr

McCreevy said economic circumstances had changed and grants promised in the context of the stadium were not guaranteed now. “Therefore, and as a consequence, all other monies must be considered in light of competing circumstances,” the minister said.

But FAI treasurer John Delaney stressed that this money was being specifically directed to development of the game across the country and expected the commitment to be honoured in absolute terms.

“That’s where the Damian Duffs and Robbie Keanes come from,” he said.

The FAI now plans to meet with the Irish Rugby Football Union to discuss areas of joint co-operation and develop a strategic partnership. OCI president Pat Hickey, a leading member of the International Olympic Committee, said several Third World countries were doing a better job in providing modern indoor and outdoor sports facilities than Ireland.

Describing the current situation as ludicrous, Mr Hickey said it was impacting heavily on Ireland’s image abroad.

“Now is the time to show some real vision and leadership in the matter of sports facilities and stop the appalling messing around that’s going on,” he said.