Sports Minister Shane Ross says John Delaney’s €100,000 loan raises “serious questions about governance and financial controls in the FAI.”
And another politician last night claimed the entire FAI board is “existing on borrowed time”.
Ross finally broke his silence on the controversy having kept a low profile since chaos engulfed the association on St Patrick’s Day.
But responding to Dáil questions today, he refused to wade in knee deep and insisted Sport Ireland must first probe why the loan was needed.
“I’ll publish [the report] without fear or favour to anybody," he said.
Angry FAI staff want explanations for John Delaney's bumper salary package
“In the interests of due process and natural justice, it’s important that Sport Ireland's engagement with the FAI be given time to ensure all matters are considered thoroughly.
"Therefore I do not wish to make any comment on any possible outcome from this ongoing process.”
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock - a member of the Oireachtas committee to grill FAI chiefs on April 10 - said: “The board of the FAI is only existing on borrowed time."
That board met twice this week as the pressure intensified on Delaney who controversially left his CEO role on Saturday to become its executive Vice President.
Delaney wants to stay in that newly created role until the Euro 2020 finals but it’s understood the board is split over his future.
Meanwhile, UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the FAI for Tuesday’s tennis ball protest at Delaney.
Ireland fans lobbed dozens of balls onto the Aviva pitch in the 33rd minute of the 1-0 win over Georgia.
UEFA's ‘Control, Ethics and Disciplinary committee’ will hear the case on May 16.
They could fine the FAI but while extremely unlikely, UEFA also has the power to force a partial or full closure of Aviva Stadium for June's home game against Gibraltar.
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