Sport Ireland has sought assurances that no child was put at risk because of vetting issues that have been uncovered at the Football Association of Ireland.It comes as an Oireachtas committee has heard that an “unprecedented” standing down of 6,000 coaches by the FAI has caused “chaos” in local soccer clubs across the country in recent weeks.Politicians strongly hit out at the FAI for refusing the appear before the sports committee to answer questions on serious issues that have been uncovered around safeguarding of underage players.Issues with vetting have resulted in a mass stand-down of coaches and referees as the FAI works with the gardaí to establish who should go through the clearance process.Questioning Sport Ireland representatives, who did accept an invite to appear before the committee, Peter ‘Chap’ Clere outlined how issues with safeguarding had come to light during a meeting of the committee on September 30, which led to a special FAI board meeting on safeguarding the following week.On October 9, he said 12 League of Ireland referees were stood down, and following that 6,000 coaches had been stood down.Head of Sport Ireland, Dr Una May said there was “a lot of confusion” around vetting and the “recording of who was obligated to carry out vetting”. However, she added that this is a matter for the FAI and one that the organisation is currently dealing with.Mr Clere asked Dr May if she could categorically confirm that no children would have been placed in potentially unsafe situations because of the inconsistencies in the FAI connect system.Dr May said: “I sought that assurance from the FAI only a few days ago, so I am awaiting a response on that. Our understanding is that it’s not an issue but it’s a specific question we’ve asked the FAI to provide us with a clear, categorical response on whether or not complaints or any issues have been raised.”Pointing to the disruption caused, Padraig O’Sullivan said:
In the immediate aftermath of our last meeting there was chaos nationwide. I remember turning up to my local soccer club on a Saturday when kids train and there were coaches worried whether should they or should they not be on the side of the field.
Before the meeting commenced, committee chair Alan Kelly criticised the FAI for refusing to appear at the hearing describing it as “not good practice”. Mr Kelly dubbed the reasons given by the FAI for not appearing as “flimsy”.”They came to other meetings when there were matches on in the same week (as a men’s senior international match), and obviously we’re on Wednesday and the match is not for another period of time, so it’s quite regrettable that the FAI aren’t here.”This was echoed by other members of the committee who pointed to the empty seat allocated for the FAI. Venting frustration, senator Alison Comyn said there are questions that only the FAI can answer.Outlining the role of Sport Ireland, Dr May said: “We are tasked with ensuring that there is a strong sports sector and we do that through the work we provide, the guidance we provide, the supports around governance and good practice in sport. “We don’t generally invoke any powers of investigation unless, as said, it’s an extreme situation.”Mr Kelly said it was “beyond belief” that the standing down of 6,000 people does not qualify as a reason to launch an investigation. “If that doesn’t reach a threshold of concern for your organisation, then I don’t know what would,” Mr Kelly said.
Elaine Loughlin, political editor
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