Extraordinary press conference from WNT seeks basic dignity for players

The Ireland Women's National Football Team are calling for more respect to be shown to them by the Football Association Of Ireland, after today outlining some of the poor conditions they have had to encounter while representing their country.

At a press conference in Liberty Hall in Dublin, members from the team along with representatives from the players’ union body, the PFAI outlined the issues which they sought to be addressed.

Players gave accounts of what they have had to face while representing their country, including on a number of occasions having to get changed into their tracksuits in the airport public toilets on the way to games. 

Irish captain Emma Byrne, described the situation of having to change in the airports as 'humiliating'.

Byrne, who has played over 100 times for her country, stated how the team have given up trying to deal with the FAI directly and that after a number of issues have gone unresolved over the past few years, enough is enough.

A statement released on behalf of the Irish women's squad outlined how the current situation is unsustainable: 

"Last year we gave up over 40 working days to train and prepare for international games. We currently receive no loss of earnings, no match fee or bonus for the time given to represent our country.

"Over 60% of the current squad are non-professional, many careers outside the game are put on hold and it is becoming financially unrealistic to continue under the current parameters .

"We are elite athletes and compete on the world stage, yet our treatment is far from where we feel it should be.

"With increased investment into the team, and us as players, we feel we have a greater chance to qualify for tournaments on a regular basis and individually reach our full potential as international players."

Among the issues which the Irish players want to be addressed included that all non- professional players to receive loss of earnings documented from their employers. 

In response to this morning's press conference, the FAI responded with the following statement this lunchtime.

"The Football Association of Ireland is deeply disappointed that members of the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team have threatened to withdraw from playing for their country in the upcoming match versus Slovakia on April 10, 2017.

"The ultimatum by the players concerned comes in spite of repeated invitations from the FAI to the Players to discuss clear and tangible financial offers for the payment and compensation of members of the squad."

The news comes in what is a big week for FAI chief executive John Delaney, who is up for election at UEFA Congress in Helsinki tomorrow with a view to winning a place on the Executive Committee of European football's governing body.

But the WNT have made it plainly clear this is not an issue they are going to let lie and are determined to do whatever it takes to solve their outstanding issues with the FAI.