Axing of stadium a crisis in waiting

THE first crisis for the FAI as a result of the Government’s abandonment of the new stadium project will present itself in two years time when the opening round of fixtures in the qualification tournament for the World Cup of 2006 in Germany will be played.

FIFA have stated that federations will not be allowed to use temporary seating for matches in this tournament, so the Irish international team will be playing before a maximum of 23,000 spectators at Lansdowne Road.

A crisis could arrive sooner, however, if the IRFU decide to upgrade Lansdowne Road in the meantime.

A temporary closing of the stadium, or of part of the stadium, would leave the FAI whistling in the wind without a suitable venue for international matches.

The Government will argue that they have not abandoned the stadium project, of course. However football officials outside of the FAI executive have expressed their anger by using phrases such as “betrayal”.

They point to the fact that when Fianna Fáil went forward for re-election the new stadium project was included by the party in their programme for government.

By the same token, they question whether the PDs made it clear that they would only go back into government if the stadium project was abandoned.

The essential truth is that the current problem for the FAI and, indeed for the IRFU, can only be solved by the building of a new stadium.

Croke Park is not an option given that the rules of the association prevent them from playing other games there.

There are other difficulties of course, such as the absence of floodlights and the resident associations who already have problems with the number of major games played there.

It is possible, of course, the GAA will change its rule at the annual congress, but even if this happens it is acknowledged that the stadium can only be made available on an occasional basis.

It is not possible for the three major sports associations to concentrate all their major promotions in this one stadium.

The FAI will not comment officially on this latest development until after the committee of management have examined in detail and discussed the Government statement.

But they are worried enough to want to re-examine the terms of their agreement with the Government last March, when the granting of 15m per year for three years of taxpayers’ money for development work nationwide was finalised. This grant was agreed on foot of the FAI’s decision to abandon their own Eircom Park project.

The perceived wisdom is that this money is guaranteed, for the FAI have already taken delivery of the first tranche and have supplied the relevant Government department with voluminous plans for the development of infrastructure and facilities throughout the country.

This was regarded as the icing on the cake by football legislators who were in favour of the FAI abandoning Eircom Park, and was used extensively to persuade those who resisted the proposals to fall in line.

It is certain that those who were in favour of the FAI proceeding with their own plans regardless were in the majority, for most legislators outside of the national executive were, at best, sceptical about going into partnership with the Government.

They will take no satisfaction now for being proved right. Rather will they hope their long-running friendship with the IRFU and the many years of co-operation will somehow produce a solution to a problem that can only be solved by the provision of a new stadium capable of being used by Ireland’s football and rugby international teams.