FAI counts cost of failing to reach Russia

Failure to reach next year’s World Cup has denied the FAI a potential €9m in prize money and allowances, thereby undermining their chances of becoming debt-free by 2020.

To year-end 2016, the association owed €40m in loans, primarily towards the mortgage on the Lansdowne Road redevelopment project which was meant to be funded by the sale of premium tickets.

Chief executive John Delaney explained in May that a decision on whether his previous vow to clear the stadium debt by 2020 would be discussed in the first quarter of 2018.