An "independent and in-depth" external review of "issues of concern" at the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been commissioned, the organisation has announced.
A sub-committee of the FAI board has asked global auditing and consulting group Mazars to conduct the review, and requested that it be completed "as soon as possible".
In a statement, the FAI said: "The Board of the Football Association of Ireland acknowledges the concerns expressed by members of the football family, supporters, commentators, politicians and the public around recent media stories concerning the Association.
"The Board is committed to fully addressing the issues of concern and is undertaking steps to do so."
The statement was shared by Fine Gael TD Noel Rock this afternoon:
Deputy Rock has already lodged a complaint with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) over account keeping at the association.
Last weekend, he claimed: "It's very clear to me and very apparent to me that there are issues around record keeping, there are issues around transparency, there are issues around the loan from John Delaney to the FAI."
Today's statement by the football association comes a week after John Delaney stepped aside as chief executive.
He has instead taken up the role of executive vice-president, with chief operating officer Rea Walshe moving to the role of interim CEO.
Mr Delaney previously confirmed he lent the FAI €100,000 from his own pocket to help it through a “very short-term cash flow issue” in April 2017.
Representatives of the FAI are scheduled to appear before the Oireachtas Committe on Sport on April 10th.
