FAI admits nobody spoke to Ireland goalkeepers about playing Israel

FAI officials faced Oireachtas questions over player welfare, UEFA sanctions and the handling of Gavin Bazunu’s decision to withdraw

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu decided to boycott Ireland's fixtures against Israel. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

The FAI has admitted that nobody spoke to Ireland’s goalkeepers about their feelings on playing Israel before Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad on the eve of Saturday’s Nations League fixture.

FAI Director of Football John Martin made the admission at the Oireachtas Sport Committee on Wednesday, where representatives of the association were questioned about safeguarding and governance issues.

Much of the hearing focused on the controversial Israel fixtures and Bazunu’s decision to withdraw from the squad shortly before Sunday’s match, which Ireland won.

Committee chair Alan Kelly asked Mr Martin who had spoken to the goalkeepers about the Israel game after FAI manager Heimir Hallgrímsson said he had spoken to the outfield players.

Mr Martin said: “Truthfully, it appears nobody talked to the goalkeepers.” The admission came after conflicting information about the level of contact between Mr Hallgrímsson and Bazunu.

FAI chief executive David Courell had earlier told the committee that the manager had spoken to Bazunu for an hour in August while he was still a Southampton player.

However, Mr Courell later clarified that the conversation had been a “general catch up” relating to call-ups.

Bazunu did not take part in player vote 

Mr Martin also told the committee that Bazunu had not been excluded from a straw poll of players on whether Ireland should fulfil the Israel fixture.

“The players went back to their rooms and spoke to loved ones. They came back and took a vote. Gavin didn’t take part in the vote. We assumed his vote was a no vote when we tallied the votes.” Mr Courell said the players had organised the straw poll themselves and that the FAI had been consistent in its decision to fulfil the fixture since the draw was made in February.

He said the players had agreed in Kosovo to play the Israel game, but one player subsequently changed his mind.

However, Mr Courell stressed that the decision to fulfil the fixture was ultimately made by the FAI rather than the players.

“The association had to take into account the majority (of players who voted to play),” he said.

Mr Courell said the FAI had engaged with 25 players during the summer and received a consensus that the fixture should go ahead, “as uncomfortable as they are”.

He also said the FAI had not “created” the situation.

FAI says players were supported 

Mr Courell said no player had been left alone and that Bazunu had been provided with psychological and medical support.

He said player welfare was paramount “in the environment” and that the FAI had “wrapped around” the Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper.

Bazunu, who has since signed for Bolton Wanderers, is back in the squad for Thursday’s fixture against Austria. He is then expected to withdraw again and be replaced by Josh Keeley as the third goalkeeper for the Israel rematch.

Earlier, the FAI said no Irish players’ careers had been threatened in an attempt to pressure them into playing the Nations League fixtures.

Asked by Fianna Fáil TD Peter Chap Cleere if any players had been contacted by agents or clubs in an effort to ensure the game went ahead, Mr Martin said he had been in meetings on Friday and Saturday and that “that narrative or discussion never arose”.

UEFA warned of financial consequences

Mr Martin said the FAI had been engaged with UEFA for many months following an October motion calling for Israel to be removed from European football over breaches of rules relating to clubs in illegal settlements.

Mr Courell said he had engaged with senior UEFA leadership over possible sanctions for failing to fulfil the fixture.

He told Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne that UEFA was “sympathetic” to the FAI’s position, but that the “rules and regulations” of the UEFA Nations League were “explicit” and could include Ireland being removed from the tournament.

He said UEFA would have had a “shopping list” of consequences, including an immediate financial loss of €5.5 million, with a further €4.8 million of likely impact and a third tier of consequences which would be “multiples” of this.

Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne accused the FAI of “catastrophic failures” in its handling of the fixtures and questioned FAI president Paul Cooke over his claim that the association had handled the situation well.

She said there had been no welfare considerations for Bazunu, while Mr Courell disputed this and said the association had provided extensive support to the goalkeeper.

The hearing also covered safeguarding and governance, with concerns raised about the FAI being unable to confirm whether all grassroots coaches are Garda vetted.