FAI President Donal Conway has admitted some of the association’s own statements on John Delaney’s ‘€100,000 issue” were inaccurate.
Last night, he said: “Some recent comments made by the FAI did not accurately reflect the board’s level of awareness of the existence of the €100,000 issue in 2017”.
Conway also said accounting firm Grant Thornton have been at FAI HQ for the past week to pore over “books, records and ledgers”.
Delaney apparently provided the association with a ‘bridging loan’ in 2017 which was repaid within two months.
On March 18, an FAI statement claimed: “The Board of the FAI has been kept fully informed in relation to this matter at all times.”
But Fine Gael TD Noel Rock (right) said last night: “Their statement (yesterday) completely contradicts this. The Board needs to be straight with both the Committee and the public on this matter.”
Rock is a member of the Oireachtas Committee set to question executive Vice President Delaney and key members of the FAI board tomorrow.
Politicians demanded the FAI send Conway, honorary treasurer Eddie Murray, legal and corporate affairs committee chair Paraic Treanor, interim CEO Rea Walshe and Delaney.
Last night, the FAI said ‘requested’ parties would attend having apparently rowed back on initial plans to send other figures alongside Delaney and Walshe.
FAI board members refused to answer questions regarding the ‘loan’ when quizzed by media at Ireland’s game in Gibraltar and again at last week’s U17 Euros draw.
Sport Ireland chief John Treacy was scathing of the FAI last Wednesday for failing to satisfactorily explain Delaney’s €100,000 payment to the association.
Conway refused to apologise yesterday but said he “regretted that we were not in a position to assist Sport Ireland with answers.”
Conway added: “The Board is seeking to fully address all concerns in a determined and transparent manner and many steps are being taken to do so
Auditing firm Mazars was recently commissioned to conduct an “in-depth external review of matters” since the revelations emerged.
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