Sport Ireland has slammed the FAI for “drip-feeding” information about finances and governance.
Chairman Kieran Mulvey said reforms are not possible if the association continues to take a piecemeal approach to providing information to the public and the State.
He added: “This is a story that is not going to go away.
“I think that continuous release of information – as I said at the Oireachtas committee – the continual drip-feed of this is going to create terrible difficulties for those of us who are committed to reforming the FAI and bringing good corporate governance to it.”
Mr Mulvey said he believed the FAI was starting to come clean with Sport Ireland, the Government body that provides public funds to the FAI and other sports organisations.
FAI's John Delaney accused of 'behaving disgracefully' at Oireachtas Committee meeting
But he believes those within the FAI were not fully aware of the details of the transactions over the past few years.
Mr Mulvey made the comments on RTE Radio 1’s Marian Finucane programme on Sunday.
He spoke about the alleged financial irregularities revealed in The Sunday Times, including a €100,000 loan Mr Delaney gave to the FAI from his personal account.
The former chief executive, who was earning a €360,000 annual salary, has been on “gardening leave” since last Monday.
The Sport Ireland boss insisted sweeping reforms are needed within the FAI at a senior managerial level.
But he said this cannot take place until the FAI stops “drip-feeding” information.
He added Sport Ireland will only be able to help the FAI bring about change if certain people within the organisation take responsibility for what has happened.
Mr Mulvey, who previously worked as chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, said: “I think they’re beginning to come clean with us.
“But I don’t think they know themselves fully the nature of the transactions that have taken place in the FAI in the last four or five years. I think that’s the difficulty.”
To date no auditing firm has come forward to assist Sport Ireland in a review of the FAI finances – despite the fact a procurement notice was issued.
Mr Mulvey added: “We’ve got no response from any firm of auditors in the country – now isn’t that saying something?
“I’d say most reputable firms – and they’re all reputable, I’ve no reason to think otherwise –don’t want to put themselves into this scenario for reputational and other reasons.”
Sport Ireland is hoping to meet again with the FAI later this week.
FAI interim CEO Rea Walshe meets PFAI bosses
"We spoke about it as a management committee and decided to make our feelings known".
If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
