Trapattoni survives, but will soccer?
The FAI could be facing another period of upheaval, especially if contagion around Trapattoni spreads to Delaney or if the Aviva ticketing debacle comes home to roost. But for clubs like Finglas Celtic there is little change in the offing. These clubs have come to expect nothing from their parent association.
“Whether it’s Dublin City Council or the FAI, the answer that comes back is we haven’t a pot to piss in,” Keely says. “I’m fed up hearing it. The clubs are being starved of cash because they keep on giving us the same answer.”
In numbers
€360,000 Current salary of the Football Association of Ireland’s chief executive, John Delaney. He said he cut it from €400,000 in 2011 to show “leadership”.
€377,000 Cut imposed by the FAI in its grant aid to soccer clubs and leagues around the State last year, a drop of 29 per cent.
€64 million The FAI’s outstanding loans, including interest, on the Aviva stadium development.
€45 million The FAI’s turnover in 2011.
€12,000-€32,000 The price range for annual Vantage Club tickets under initial 10-year sales scheme.
€300-€600 The price range for annual Vantage Club tickets offered to existing purchasers last year.
€1.5 million The current salary of the Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, half of which is paid by the businessman Denis O’Brien.
17 The number of goals conceded by the Republic of Ireland in their past six competitive fixtures.
Money and misery FAI controversies
1996 It is revealed the association used a controversial ticket agent known as “George the Greek” to trade tickets on the black market. The FAI’s president, Louis Kilcoyne, and its treasurer, Joe Delaney (father of the current head, John Delaney) resign over the scandal.
1999 The FAI announces plans for a national football stadium in Citywest, to be called Eircom Park. Bitter in-fighting leads to a swing in favour of the “Bertie Bowl” in Abbotstown, plans for which are later scrapped.
2002 The Genesis Report, commissioned after the departure of Roy Keane from the World Cup squad, is heavily critical of the FAI’s structures and culture. Brendan Menton resigns as general secretary.
2004 Fran Rooney departs as chief executive after a very public row with the then Fianna Fáil-led government over funding and performance issues. John Delaney replaces the former Baltimore Technologies chief, with a salary boosted to €350,000.
2006 In a botched team-management reshuffle, Brian Kerr is replaced by Steve Staunton, working alongside former England coach Bobby Robson. The arrangement ends in late 2007 after a series of poor results, including a 5-2 defeat to Cyprus.
2008 Giovanni Trapattoni is appointed on an initial salary of close to €2 million, plus a backroom team costing about €750,000 a year. Wages at the top of the FAI continue to rise, with Delaney’s pay creeping over €431,000 in 2009.
2010 The Aviva stadium opens. The FAI develop the venue with the Irish Rugby Football Union on a 50:50 basis but, unlike rugby’s governing body, fail to sell most of their 10-year tickets before the economy starts to turn.
June 2012 A disastrous campaign by the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2012 didn’t stop John Delaney from celebrating exuberantly with fans; their antics were captured in a number of YouTube videos.
October 2012 The FAI faces another financial challenge as it contemplates removing the underperforming Trapattoni, still one of world soccer’s highest paid managers.
