FAI and league officials plot return of domestic game

The FAI has met with the National League Executive Committee to draw up a roadmap for the return of SSE Airtricity League football at the earliest opportunity and in line with UEFA, Government and HSE guidelines.

The meeting took place remotely and followed the FAI's participation in a UEFA conference with all 55 member states on Tuesday around a return to action.

The talks with the NLEC also followed the latest statement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar around restrictions on public movement and a Government statement on a ban for licensed mass gatherings of more than 5,000 people until the end of August.

Delegates from the FAI and the NLEC discussed the various options at length, including but not restricted to the following:

• A resumption for the SSE Airtricity League behind closed doors on 19 June, with the season to end no later than the end of December, a behind-closed-doors policy to operate as long as HSE guidelines recommend.
   
• A resumption as planned on 19 June with stadium restrictions in line with HSE guidelines, including behind closed doors and reduced capacity at 25% or 50%, the season to run until the end of December.
   
• A resumption in July or August, based on Government advice and HSE guidelines.
   
• A deferral of all national league activity until September with a reduced fixture programme season to run until the end of December.
   
• A resumption of national league football in September, with a full fixture programme season to run until the end of February 2021.

The NLEC and the FAI will now work together with the SSE Airtricity League clubs to analyse the financial impact of all options available, with a final recommendation to be made ahead of a Government announcement on 5 May regarding any extension to the current lockdown.

The results of the financial analysis with the clubs will allow the FAI and the NLEC to examine all financial support options available if games are played behind closed doors, including income from live streaming and potential FIFA support.

Speaking after the meeting, NLEC chairperson Noel Byrne said: "These are unprecedented times for Irish life, never mind football, and all our clubs recognise that fact. Today’s meeting again emphasised the need for the SSE Airtricity League clubs and the FAI to work together to ensure that our league comes through this difficult period in the best manner possible.

"We discussed all potential outcomes in depth today and we will now formulate a plan for the resumption of our national league that is the best one possible for our clubs, our fans and our players, in line with best practice advice from the Government, the HSE and UEFA."

Interim deputy chief executive of the FAI Niall Quinn said: "Today’s meeting was productive and realistic in light of the most recent comments from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, his Government and UEFA. We all understand the situation the country is in right now and we will continue to follow the guidelines laid down by the HSE and the Department of Health.

"We must also prepare for all eventualities around a return to football. The FAI and the NLEC are now working with the clubs to explore the financial impact around a return to action under all circumstances.

"We are engaging with the clubs now to see what income support they will need to get us back on the field and we look forward to productive engagement with them in the coming days, so that we emerge from this difficult period in the strongest manner possible for everyone involved with the SSE Airtricity League."