FAI admit defeat on 'summer soccer' plan

An email from President Paul Cooke to the 145-strong General Assembly on Friday afternoon confirmed the climbdown.

Former FAI director of football Marc Canham during a media briefing for the FAI's Football Pathways Plan at Aviva Stadium. Canham produced a Football Pathway Plan 18 months ago which claimed 65% of surveyed participants preferred an alignment of the seasons from underage to senior. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

If Donald Trump’s Liberation Day spelt bad news for Ireland, grassroots club were hailing the footballing version as an upshot for the country.

Friday’s confirmation of FAI admitting defeat in its controversial plan to expand the League of Ireland summer season across all levels of the game was well flagged.