FAI to stand down thousands of coaches over vetting and safeguarding gaps

The matter was discussed at an emergency meeting of the FAI board on Thursday. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

The FAI are set for a mass stand-down of coaches and referees due to the absence of Garda vetting and incomplete safeguarding courses.

Last Wednesday week’s sitting of the Oireachtas sports committee posed questions of the FAI on the level of Garda vetting across the Irish landscape.

It’s understood the matter was discussed at an emergency meeting of the FAI board on Thursday, with a decision taken to stand down thousands of coaches whose clearance wasn’t up to date.

This issue affects coaches and referees operating with players from underage up to League of Ireland level.

While director of football John Martin confirmed to the committee that 1,400 of their referees within their system were licensed and Garda vetted, the committee asked the FAI to provide additional information after the session.

The FAI’s general counsel and governance director Deirdre Ardagh also said under questioning: “If a coach is coaching anybody underage, my expectation is that Garda vetting has to be in place.

“If we find that not to be the case, sanctions and disciplinary avenues are available to us.

“I am working closely with our safeguarding committee to ensure we have a robust audit process in place to be able to work with clubs and leagues so that everybody remains safe in the environment.

“To that end, if I might, I would like to mention one piece of work that I think demonstrates the direction we are trying to take.

"I think everybody knows that across the sporting environment, across all sports, Garda vetting and safeguarding is quite complex."

In a statement issued on Friday evening, the FAI said: "The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has issued a reminder to all coaches, staff and officials of children’s teams or vulnerable persons involved in Irish football that active Garda Vetting and Safeguarding requirements are mandatory.

"Following a review by its Safeguarding Department, inconsistencies were identified in the FAI Connect system. The Association is now undertaking a comprehensive review of safeguarding compliance records.

"All relevant individuals, clubs and leagues have been reminded that Garda Vetting is required, under the obligations under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and applicable FAI Safeguarding policies.

"To ensure compliance with statutory and FAI safeguarding requirements, individuals must not undertake any role involving children or vulnerable persons unless the necessary vetting has been completed and confirmed.

"The Association has also reminded clubs, leagues and officials of current Garda Vetting application processing times and their responsibility to ensure that individuals undertaking roles requiring vetting have completed the necessary process before commencing those activities.

"It is important to note that a Garda Vetting application is not considered complete until official confirmation has been received and the individual’s status is recorded as ‘Passed’.

"The Association continues to provide support through education, systems, guidance and monitoring to help individuals, clubs and leagues meet their safeguarding obligations."