Political and football rivals call for investment in the game in Ireland

Macdara Ferris reports from Leinster House

Political and football rivals came together yesterday in Leinster House to discuss the future of Irish football ahead of next month’s private member’s motion in the Dáil on investment in football infrastructure.

The presentation on the future of Irish football was attended by TDs, Senators and political staff from both government and opposition parties and included those who support a range of clubs across the league including Bohemians, Dundalk, Drogheda United, Kerry, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers.

The meeting was organised by Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD ahead of the Labour Party Private Members’ Motion set for July 12th in the Dáil. 

The motion will call for investment in infrastructure, a greater focus on gender equality and the introduction of football programmes at Transition Year.

A panel of speakers were present to inform the politicians of their experience of the state of Irish football and the vital importance on investment in the game. 

The panel included Lisa Fallon (FIFA), Stephen McGuinness, Brendan Clarke and Pico Lopes (PFAI), and Conor Hoey (Drogheda United Director).

With the Women’s World Cup on the horizon, Lisa Fallon spoke about the Euro 88 and Italia 90 tournaments being an inspiration to her, pushing her towards a career in football through the media, coaching and now as part of Fifa’s Global Football Development Division.

“We need to better facilitate the young players after a World Cup that will flood our fields with dreams,” said Fallon who noted that in her locality there are waiting lists for teams due to the lack of facilities. 

Brendan Clarke (Chair of the PFAI) said his Galway United team are “still getting changed in hotels before First Division games as dressing rooms at some clubs are too small."

Stephen McGuinness (PFAI General Secretary) talked about the need for investment in both facilities, where “many League of Ireland stadiums haven’t changed since the 1990s”, and the importance of investment in coaching and at academy level to develop the players of the future.

Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes, fresh from helping his Cape Verde team qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations, spoke about chasing the dream of full-time football and how late in his career he got the opportunity to go full time with a 52 week contract at Shamrock Rovers. 

Success in Europe with the Hoops opened the doors for him to play international football with Cape Verde.

Next month’s motion comes on the back of the recent publication by the FAI calling for an investment requirement of €863 million over a 15-year period to address deficits in facilities and structures. Conor Hoey (Drogheda United) called the report “a brilliant plan”.

In the discussion that followed, with contributions for TDs and Senators, Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews highlighted the need for a sports facilities strategy. 

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said that the time has come for “a political focus on football’s funding and facilities.”

According to Ó Ríordáin, the motion will be the first proper Dáil debate on the game – going beyond sports debates or questions to the Sports Minister – and he is looking for cross party support to call on government investment in the game.

His party have noted that ‘football has been outside the political love circle for some time. 

'Other codes have done an awful lot better. What the FAI are legitimately pointing out is the deficit in infrastructure within the game, grassroots, League of Ireland, international and it won’t be cheap to fix. 

'The time for complaining about the state of Irish football is over, it’s time to support it, invest in it and grow it. The motion will ask for political support for the FAI report.’

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