FAI’s unified calendar plan to face backlash

BACKLASH: FAI director of football Marc Canham, left, and FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill during an FAI media briefing at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Director of Football Marc Canham is poised to encounter resistance to his plan of introducing a unified calendar schedule across the FAI’s affiliates by January 2026.

A similar overhaul instigated by his predecessor Ruud Dokter fell asunder during the downfall of John Delaney’s reign in 2019 but Canham will contend the desire exists to synchronise the start and end dates generally with the version operated by the men’s and women’s national leagues, from senior down to underage.