Crippling FAI debt hits €51.2m

The importance of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane rescuing Ireland’s Euro qualification ambitions in the autumn has again been highlighted by the latest set of published FAI accounts.

Senior clubs and grassroots leagues learned yesterday when they received by post the 2014 accounts that the FAI’s debts have risen to €51.2m.

Turnover increased by a mere 4% to €38m despite 2014 being the first year of Uefa’s new centralised television deal, which guarantees the FAI €10m per annum.