Man in a towel entered room where Irish women's player awaited medical massage, committee told

The association's CEO David Courell told the committee that he did not know 'what the concern' was with the case. File photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Players for the Irish women's team were "stalked" with a man in a towel entering a room where a player was about to have a massage while preparing for a game in Hungary, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

FAI representatives were before the Sports Committee on Wednesday to discuss safeguarding issues, with Fine Gael senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn raising incidents at a game in Hungary, during which she said that the association's People and Culture Officer, Aoife Rafferty, had taken a phone call.

Ms Rafferty said that she could not recall taking a phone call, but would "consult her records".

Ms Ní Chuilinn said the incident occurred in 2023 after a man wearing just a towel entered a room in which a player was awaiting a medical massage. `

She said women's national team players were "stalked and harassed on street" and in their hotel dining room and that police had been called locally. Ms Rafferty said that she was not aware if security had been with players on that trip, but Ms Ní Chuilinn said that there had not been.

Ms Ní Chuilinn asked the association's director of football John Martin if the women's team travels with security to which Mr Martin confirmed they did.

The association's CEO David Courell told the committee that he did not know "what the concern" was with the case, to which Ms Ní Chuilinn replied: “The concern is that a man in a towel and nothing else came into the team room.

" The concern is that the Ireland women’s team, with quite a few young players, were stalked and harassed and the police were called. The concern is that Aoife Rafferty has no memory of what must have been a quite striking conversation.” 

The Fine Gael senator asked Mr Courell about allegations made in the Girls In Green documentary which alleged historical abuse of female football players. Asked if he was aware of allegations, Mr Courell said he was not in a position to comment on ongoing investigations, but was "happy to answer the questions in fuller time".

Chair of the committee Alan Kelly said that no cases or individuals had been referenced and that the FAI's stance was "a dangerous precedent" and "doesn't look good".

• Paul Hosford, deputy political editor