High-ranking UEFA chiefs have discussed whether the cash-strapped FAI should sell its stake in Aviva Stadium to raise much-needed funds.
Officials within European football’s governing body have floated the idea internally - but there is no suggestion the FAI is under pressure to do so.
UEFA are effectively bankrolling the troubled association after the extraordinary crisis that ripped through Irish football.
The FAI is claiming €15 million worth of advanced payments from various UEFA funds.
Up to €10 million is being forwarded from TV money due from the next television rights cycle.
Another €5 million is made available through UEFA’s HatTrick programme where revenue generated from Euro finals is ploughed back into national associations.
Since May, the FAI has been working on the creation of a ‘sustainable financial model’ to keep the association afloat.
But president Donal Conway believes it could be another 10 years at least before the cash-strapped body clears its €29m Aviva Stadium debt.
That was the figure presented at the 2018 FAI AGM, where the most recent FAI accounts were made available.
Former chief executive John Delaney had previously claimed the debt would be wiped by 2020.
Last year, Aviva extended its naming rights deal at the Dublin 4 venue - which is jointly controlled by the IRFU and FAI - until 2025.
The initial 10-year deal was struck when the new stadium opened in 2010 and was reportedly worth €40 million at the time.
