FAI chief executive\u00a0John Delaney\u00a0has refused to confirm that the association will cut its ties with gambling companies but admitted that it\u2019s a \u201cfair debate\u201d to have.<\/p>\n
The FAI\u2019s deal with official betting partner Ladbrokes is due to end this year, although there are still two years left on an arrangement with streaming company Trackchamp which allows overseas viewers to gamble on League of Ireland games.<\/p>\n
It was reported last week that the FAI were preparing to sever ties, but Mr Delaney indicated yesterday that the board will not be making any decisions until later this year. In February, the GAA decided to ban all gambling sponsorship deals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll let you know when we decide,\u201d said Mr Delaney.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fair debate to have but the first place to have those debates is internally, then you present your decision as to why you did, or did not, take a sponsorship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose funds (Trackchamp) are passed straight onto the League of Ireland clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear in mind that when you drop a sponsor, you are dropping that revenue so you have a debate in an informed way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Delaney acknowledged that sponsorships with gambling and alcohol companies can present difficulties but argued that the money can be used for positive purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith any sponsorship programme, [you look at] how that money benefits society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople say, for instance, \u2018Well, should you have a sponsorship with alcohol?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cBut [it\u2019s] how you spend that money and where it goes to benefit football and benefit society.<\/p>\n
Facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe were in 43 clubs [in Cork] this week and none of those clubs were saying, \u2018We want to build houses or apartments on this land \u2013 we want to build facilities for kids and we want to have better dressing rooms\u2019 or whatever it would be.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a couple of categories in sponsorship which, how will I put it to you, are sometimes controversial.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately for the association \u2013 and this applies to a lot of sporting bodies \u2013 when you get that revenue, where does that revenue go? That\u2019s the key to me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n