Ian Lynam standing up to protect sport’s integrity

London-based Limerick lawyer Ian Lynam has been working hard to protect sport’s integrity from a range of threats, from match-fixing to Brexit. But he’s also occupied with where sport is going, and the widening role of analytics...

The heads of the FAI, IRFU and GAA were before an Oireachtas committee this week, and behind the knockabout fun about playing and games and funding, larger issues loomed.

For instance: governance in sports organisations flashed across the public consciousness a few weeks ago when Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, jumped the gun on gender balance for sporting boards. Even if his proposal to punish governing bodies for lack of gender balance didn’t survive that week, it started the conversation. When it comes time to create legislation from that conversation, one of O’Donovan’s county colleagues would be worth consulting.