The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) sought an €18 million bailout from the Government this week, Sports Minister Shane Ross has told an Oireachtas committee.
Minister Ross called it "shocking", saying the association sought either the funding or "alternatively a guarantee" of that figure.
Shane Ross tells the Sports Committee he probably shouldn't have told them the FAI looked for an 18 million euro bailout. "It had the word confidential on it"
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 18, 2019
He also confirmed that "not one euro" of a new funding scheme for youth football and grassroots development officers will go to the FAI.
Minister Ross says the Sport Ireland scheme will begin next month, and deliver up to €2.3 million to 60 development officers around the country next year.
It's similar to a previously agreed scheme to fund the women's national team, and it will see no public funds going to the FAI either directly or indirectly.
In an opening statement ahead of his appearance before the Oireachtas Sports Committee, Minister Ross said: "I would like to confirm at the outset that not one euro of this funding will go to the FAI.
"Not a single cent will go to the FAI – either directly or indirectly – until we are fully satisfied that all weaknesses in governance and financial control have been fully addressed.
"The funding will be channelled through a payroll processing company who will make payments directly to the development officers themselves."
'Not fit to handle public funds'
Meanwhile, Minister Ross also said he would be be able to provide the committee with a copy of the KOSI auditors' report of the FAI's finances as it has been referred to the gardaí.
The Sports Minister said he's been advised by gardaí that publishing "even a heavily redacted copy" of the report could undermine their work.
However, he said: "While I have been advised that to share the full details of the KOSI auditors’ findings would be unlawful, I can confirm that their opinion is that the FAI is not fit to handle public funds.
"They acknowledge that some steps have been taken to address shortcomings, but there is a steep mountain to climb before we can reinstate funding to the FAI."
Minister Ross reiterated his calls for the association to appoint a new independent board and CEO as soon as possible.
The FAI has already confirmed it will not attend today's Oireachtas committee hearing.
Accounts published earlier this month revealed that the association's liabilities stand at over €55 million.
