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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

FIFA write to the FAI looking for answers over crisis

FIFA have written to the FAI looking for answers about their much publicised troubles.

Football's governing body has strict laws against third-party involvement in national federations.

And the FAI could be subject to punishment, including suspensions from playing international games, for an investigation into them by the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement.

The association have also been reported by auditors Deloitte for accounting breaches and their state funding suspended by Sport Ireland pending the outcome of a report by auditing firm Mazars on governance reforms.

It comes as Ireland manager Mick McCarthy claims the ongoing FAI crisis will have "absolutely zero" affect on their to take six points from their Euro 2020 qualifiers in June.

Ireland assistant manager Robbie Keane and manager Mick McCarthy (©INPHO/James Crombie)

Cross-channel play-offs could affect Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifiers preparation, says Mick McCarthy 

McCarthy says he has been kept informed of events since the night of the opening qualifier in Gibraltar on March 23 when embattled former CEO John Delaney became the association's executive vice-president.

Delaney has since gone on gardening leave as the association's finances and governance have come under intense scrutiny.

“I’ve always maintained when you’re in football, you’re better off being on the back pages, that’s for sure," stated McCarthy at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

"That’s my preference. But I can’t affect that.

"I have to say that you guys (the media) are pretty good when you get a piece of wallpaper and it starts peeling off."

Asked if he felt the FAI had been treated unfairly, McCarthy responded: "I don't know, because I don't know the full circumstances.

"Maybe when it's all finished I might look back over it all and decide whether it's fair or unfair. I haven't followed it (closely)...and I'm not going to.

"You all want me to say something that's going to headline. Of course you have to ask me, but I'm going to tell you 'no'.

"So let's be brutally honest, you can keep asking me...".

Republic of Ireland mens national team manager Mick McCarthy, and Republic of Ireland Womens national team manager Colin Bell were on hand at the Aviva Stadium to launch the 2019 SportsDirect.com FAI Summer Soccer Schools programme (Seb Daly/Sportsfile)

Mick McCarthy backs rejuvenated Shane Long to make a huge difference to Ireland's Euro 2020 push  

Asked if the situation could affect preparations for the qualifiers against Gibraltar, McCarthy replied: "Absolutely zero. Nothing. Not at all.

"We'll come in, train, and carry on as they normally do - or as we have done since I've come in. It doesn't have any bearing on it at all.

"We saw it here. The tennis balls coming on (against Georgia) probably had a positive effect, with Glenn Whelan getting the ball (after Conor Hourihane's goal) and saying, 'F****ing come on'.

"It's (about) the football. I was walking down with Michael D Higgins at the Liverpool Legends game, and he just said, 'It's the football' and I said, 'You're quite right'.

"I just get on with it. The sentiment is that it's the football that counts. Without the football, none of us would be here.

"That's what I'll talk about. If we give everybody a lift with our performances and results, that's spot on.

"We’ve had two games, we’ve won them both, we’ve got six points. I know it’s stating the obvious and I can’t do anything about it (the crisis)."

Stephen Bradley claims League bosses must ensure best referees handle big games  

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