It's hard to fathom now that soccer was once Ireland's most high profile and popular sport.Through the near constant recession of the late 1980's and early 1990's though, soccer was one of the few things that Ireland had to keep it's spirits up, as a medley of first and second generation Irish passport holders from England led us to historic victories against amongst others, England.
Arguably (at least tenuously) it's the Charlton years that kick-started Irish self-confidence and the Irish economy.
Whether that's true or not, the success on the pitch saw big Jack elevated to near saint status in most Irish homes, alongside the other adopted sons, John F. Kennedy and Pope John Paul II (back when the Roman Catholic Church was still popular.)
Even today Jack could murder a bag of kittens live on The Late Late Show and he'd still be Ireland's favourite man.
But the "grandmother rule" seems to have been the last thing that the FAI got right.
Since the highs of Euro '88 and Italia '90 (and even parts of USA '94) we've seen boo-boo after boo-boo turn Irish soccer into a laughing stock.
At Italia '90 and USA '94 the association lost a bundle of cash when they were left high and dry from dealing with ticket touts to try and get more match tickets for their games.
Then there was the aborted Eircom Park plan which turned into a shambles and was abandoned two years later.
And of course in 2002 there was Saipan.
Forgotten amid the schoolgirl-like bitchiness and whining from both sides, was the fact that the FAI had organised Ireland's pre-tournament preparation for a World Cup on an an Island only 5 miles wide, which had no soccer pitch and whose chief attractions were golf courses, bars and brothels.
The team had no proper kit and no footballs for most of their 'preparation' period as the FAI hadn't made sure that it was shipped in time. Hmmm...
That the team got to the second round is nothing short of a miracle.
What followed McCarthy's departure was the hiring and firing of a perfectly good manager, Brian Kerr, who couldn't make a silk purse out of a sows ear and the hiring of a completely unqualified Steve Staunton.
While Staunton has taken a lot of flak, you'd have to question the wisdom of those who appointed a rookie manager to a national side. Just because a learner driver thinks it's a good idea to drive off a cliff doesn't mean you should pay him to.
In 2007, the FAI sold it's headquarters in Merrion Square, one of the most prestigious Georgian addresses in the capital, to move to... A portacabin in West Dublin. I kid you not.
If it were the IRFU you'd presume that they had predicted the peak of the property market and were poised to buy it back now for a song, but with the FAI you get the sneaking suspicion that they've invested it all on a three-legged 'sure thing' in the 2.30 at Leopardstown.
Great odds though.
In 2008 there was the failed bid to run the European Championships with Scotland and in early 2009 we heard that they couldn't sell all the premium tickets at the new stadium in Lansdowne Road.
Unsurprisingly, the IRFU had no such problems.
In stark contrast to the measured and dignified response of the players who were robbed by the hand of frog in Paris last November, the FAI's response was as naive as it was embarrassing.
The toe-curling letter to Sepp Blatter, a fine-figure head for an organisation with as little credibility as FIFA, was a cause of national embarrassment. It was like sending Mr. Bean to deal with a Bond villain.
So given their recent history, it's no surprise then that the FAI are happily screwing Irish fans yet again, choosing to play their friendly against Brazil in London rather than Dublin.
Screw the Irish fans who will have to travel abroad for a 'home' match; screw the Irish economy which funds the FAI to the tune of €3.5 million a year and could do with a boost; screw anyone who's not on the board of the FAI.
Is anyone else interested in lobbying the GAA to reintroduce the ban on their members playing soccer?
RIP Irish Soccer. You haven't been the same since Big Jack left...
7 comments:
I'm pretty sure you meant Bond Villian there not Beong Villian but sure we'd want to be stoned to believe half the stuff that happens with the FAI. I still maintain they should apologise and seek readmittance to the IFA.
Hi Dan, thanks for that, I've duly flogged my sub-editor and made the change myself! I did mean "a Bond villian", not "Bong." Although if soccer was my sport of choice I'd be habitually dependant on something strong...
But the game itself Harry, the game itself. For all the idiots and pharisees in charge of its administration, soccer will continue to be the beautiful game of the people, by the people and for the people (ok so that strictly doesn't make sense but you know what I mean).
Everyone in the world can kick a football around and join in. Rugby's not really the same. You can't have a kick-about of rugby in the school yard really and it isn't a truly global sport in the way that soccer is.
The ridiculous in-fighting the lack of chivalry amongst players, fans and management is part of the fun. It's a bit of entertainment.
Your article's great though and makes some brilliant points - Sepp Blatter, Delaney and people of their ilk do nothing for the game. The FAI are pathetic and Brian Kerr's sacking and Staunton's appointment ("We play better in March") were scandalous. Jack Charlton was by and large good but was blessed with a talented bunch of players.
Soccer is alive and well and will continue to be alive and well even if the FAI et al do their best to habitually kill it off.
Is this your entry for the Peter Ball memorial?
Harry,
Nice post. Personally, I'm not sure how much of a say the FAI had in where the game was played and I don't believe they are as much to blame for this as you make out.
Brazil have a very close relationship with FIFA and this is important on a number of levels.
First of all, Tim Vickery, BBC's South American Football Correspondant, believes that FIFA probably had a word with the Brazilian FA to agree to the friendly with Ireland as a sort of consolation prize for Ireland for not getting to the World Cup.
It also seems as though there is an unwritten agreement in place whereby European clubs only have to release their Brazilian players for friendly matches if they are staged in Europe. Brazil have, in fact, played a friendly game at the Emirates every year since it has opened, so it would appear to be a home away from home if you like.
There is also the issue that from Brazil's point of view, a friendly against Ireland is of absolutely no benefit to them in a World Cup year. In the build up to a World Cup, countries try to organise matches against teams similar to those they will play in the group stages. So, for example, England have Algeria in their group and have arranged a friendly with Egypt.
Brazil have Portugal, Ivory Coast and South Korea in their group, three teams that bear absolutely no resemblance to Ireland. So really it does seem as though they are doing us a big favour.
Bearing that in mind, I would say the whole thing was agreed on Brazil's terms and they got to pick whatever venue they wanted.
So although the FAI have a lot of other things answer for, I don't think it is fair to be overly critical in this case.
So you're a fan of the FAI, right? I don't get it.....
If that comment was at me, no I am not a fan of the FAI. Many of the reasons for that have been outlined by Harry above and there are plenty more.
I do believe though, that criticising them for having the Brazil in London game is unfair, for the reasons I have highlighted.
I mean, if we are just going to have a go at everything the FAI do, irrespective of whether it is justified or not, our criticism will be of less value when it comes to issues where a criticism is really deserved.
It was a comment to Harry; it's an in joke that does not make any sense. Good points above though.
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