FAI scrubs directors' names from website
The FAI has removed a list of directors and senior management from its website after controversy over Ireland’s fixtures against Israel.
The FAI has removed a list of directors and senior management from its website after controversy over Ireland’s fixtures against Israel.
FAI chief executive David Courell claimed earlier this month that “extreme members of the public” were engaging in “harassment” of FAI management over the body’s decision not to cancel Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel.
The names and images of senior FAI officials are no longer visible on its board members webpage but remain accessible on the Internet Archive.
Former Ireland football manager Brian Kerr has called on the board to resign over “the mess they have created” around the Israel fixtures.
It appeared up till Saturday afternoon that Sunday’s match against Israel in Hungary could be cancelled after the team was locked in discussions with management in Debrecen.
It was later reported that eight players had voted against playing Israel but 14 were in favour. This didn’t include Gavin Bazunu who was denied a vote after he withdrew from the squad over his “belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong”.
Ireland players wore black armbands and refused to shake the hands of Israeli players in Sunday’s 3-0 victory.
Courell, FAI president Paul Cooke and other executives today answered questions from the Oireachtas sports committee, defending the decision for Sunday’s match to proceed.
The Stop The Game campaign and opposition parties have called on the government, FAI and players to boycott the fixtures against Israel in response to its genocide in Gaza.
Ireland is due to play Israel in Serbia next month with president Cooke suggesting the game will go ahead even if more players follow Gavin Bazunu’s lead.
