TD: Crossed wires to blame for FAI ticket denial

A TD who attended last summer’s World Cup Final with the help of the FAI has said “crossed wires” were to blame for him apparently denying the association had any involvement in his attendance at the match. Kevin O’Keeffe, Fianna Fail’s sports spokesman was last week asked by this newspaper if the FAI helped him attend the event in Moscow in any way, and he said “no”.

However he has since confirmed that the FAI secured two tickets for the match between France and Croatia, and said he and a friend paid €1,006 for the pair. Mr O’Keeffe is deputy chair of the Oireachtas sport committee, which is soon due to question FAI executive vice president John Delaney on corporate governance and financial matters at the Association.