FAI's summer soccer vision pushed out until 2028

The 135-strong General Assembly are being asked to vote on the formal change at a meeting on Thursday, December 5.

SUMMER SOCCER PUSHED BACK: Former Ireland goalkeeper and current board member Packie Bonner led the plea for an endorsement. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Summer football won’t reach the youth and adult game until 2028 under the phased approach the FAI are pitching to constituents.

The 135-strong General Assembly, representing all strands of the game nationwide, are being asked to vote on the formal change at a meeting on Thursday, December 5.

In advance, FAI top brass are this week hosting online briefings with the three separate chambers, presenting details and addressing queries.

One item clarified that State funding to the FAI and applicants will not be affected if the association fail to get their ballot over the line with a simple majority of 51%.

Since 2002, the League of Ireland sector has operated their season from mid-February to the start of November, whereas the majority of players and teams participating aligns to the traditional calendar of others countries, from September to May.

Ireland’s decline at men’s senior international level, plummeted to 63 in Fifa’s rankings and on the back of a 5-0 destruction by England on Sunday, formed the backdrop to much of the selling points. A functioning football pyramid doesn’t exist.

Former Ireland goalkeeper and current board member Packie Bonner led the plea for an endorsement, highlighting the dividend of thinking big picture, before president Paul Cooke and chief football officer Marc Canham offered contributions.

Canham’s Football Pathways Plan, unfurled in February, placed a calendar season as one of 11 objectives.

January 2026 was the stated implementation date but feedback from their nationwide workshops drew opposition, particularly from the adult wing of the game.

That has translated into their phased tweak, starting with age levels between 5-12s initially, followed by 13-16s in 2027, with youth and adult completing the set from 2028.

Schools' football is to remain unchanged, a natural outlier considering the academic year.

With the national league clubs onboard, the outcome will hinge primarily on how the amateur and underage vote.

Should it pass, the change becomes rule and mandatory but all speakers, notably Canham and Cooke, confirmed the ballot result will be respected as final.