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FAI may be unable to avail of €4.3m of UEFA money

It’s reported that the FAI won’t be able to avail of funds made available by UEFA. UEFA have...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.35 27 Apr 2020


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FAI may be unable to avail of...

FAI may be unable to avail of €4.3m of UEFA money

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.35 27 Apr 2020


Share this article


It’s reported that the FAI won’t be able to avail of funds made available by UEFA.

UEFA have released €236.5million euro to its 55 member associations to tackle the challenges of the coronavirus shutdown.

Each association is to receive up to €4.3million.

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It follows the news that FIFA were advancing payments of almost €463,000 to its members. 

Football in Ireland is on hold until mid-June at the earliest, while staff at the FAI have been forced to take pay cuts.

This 'HatTrick' funding is usually distributed to the national associations to cover running costs and to help develop specific and targeted areas of domestic football.

UEFA has decided to allow each association to set its own priorities in light of the negative impact of the coronavirus on football at all levels.

However, it's believed the FAI already drew down this money in 2018 when John Delaney was still FAI CEO.

The Irish Independent say the FAI's revised accounts for 2018 show a €3.5million increase in UEFA grants to €8.5million.

 

Speaking of the release of funds, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, "Our sport is facing an unprecedented challenge brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.

"UEFA wants to help its members to respond in ways that are appropriate to their specific circumstances.

"As a result, we have agreed that up to €4.3m per association, paid for the remainder of this season and next, as well as part of the investment funding, can be used as our members see fit to rebuild the football community.

"I believe this is a responsible decision to help as much as we can; and I am proud of the unity that football is showing throughout this crisis.

"Without doubt, football will be at the heart of life returning to normal. When that time comes, football must be ready to answer that call."

Earlier this month, Interim FAI CEO Gary Owens told Off The Ball of the need to have international matches staged by September.

"Our immediate problems are going to be cash flow up to September, given that a lot of activities at all levels are not happening, for very good and understandable reasons," he said.

"The nine matches are helpful, though. We now have nine matches in the autumn period, so that gives us a chance to reach out to fans and put a new team in place to start looking at Club Ireland tickets, selling season tickets and look at our whole TV and media rights.

"We have got an awful lot to look forward to - we are going to have a difficult three months - but a lot depends on unknowns as to when football can resume again."


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