PFAI warning on return of ‘cash culture’

PFAI general secretary Stephen McGuinness has warned against a return to ‘cash culture’ in Irish football.

The players’ union boss said he has already heard unconfirmed stories of certain clubs – which he declined to name – offering players cash payments, something which not only contravenes the tax laws but puts the clubs in breach of FAI licensing regulations.

“These stories are very hard to prove,” said McGuinness, “so all we can do for now is ask our members to be vigilant.”

McGuinness said that it would be foolish to think that football would be immune to black market practices at a time of severe economic recession and called on the FAI to closely monitor the situation so that the game does not revert to the bad old days of under-the-counter payments to players.

Noting that 90% of the PFAI membership will be out of contract at the end of this season, McGuinness revealed details of a new initiative aimed at securing openings abroad for players who can’t get clubs here.

In January, the PFAI will bring a squad of 18 such players to Norway for a one-day indoor tournament involving teams made up of similarly out of contract footballers from the host nation, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Regular training sessions for the tournament will begin here in December and some 61 players have already expressed an interest in taking part. The final 18 will be selected by a coach sourced from outside the League of Ireland.

Meanwhile, the PFAI and Ford have announced their player of the year nominees ahead of the 2010 awards ceremony which will take place at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Saturday Noverber 6.

See Results section for nominations