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Ministers welcome meeting with UEFA Delegation

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Shane Ross, TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism and Sport, Mr. Brendan Griffin, TD, today welcomed a meeting with a UEFA delegation at Leinster House. As a result of these talks, the parties can now see a potential path to a solution for the FAI.

 

The meeting was attended by a UEFA delegation including Theodore Theodoridis, General Secretary, Zoran Lakovic, Director National Associations, Josef Koller, Financial Director and Thierry Favre, Deputy Director National Associations as well as Roy Barrett, Chairperson of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

 

Minister Ross said: “I was pleased to have had this opportunity to meet with UEFA this afternoon to discuss the financial crisis in the FAI. We discussed the extent of UEFA’s capacity and willingness to participate in a financial support package, as proposed in recent meetings with the FAI Board. I am very encouraged from our discussions today that we can now move towards finding a solution.”

 

Minister Griffin said: “We took the opportunity at today’s meeting to raise questions and concerns that had been conveyed to us by representatives of the League of Ireland clubs and players at our meeting on 3rd January. I am hopeful that we will begin to see positive progress on all fronts in the coming days and weeks.”

 

Minister Ross will now meet with Bank of Ireland in the coming days. Both Ministers will continue to work with all stakeholders in order to secure the future of football in Ireland.