The Chief Executive of the Republic of Ireland’s football association acted “completely unacceptably” when he sang a pro-IRA song after an international match, according to NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Mark Brotherston. FAI CEO, John Delaney, was filmed crooning a republican ballad about hunger strikers, after his country’s game against the USA, in Dublin.
“This was an example of blatant sectarianism and it is particularly appalling from the senior administrator of a major sporting organisation on this island, who should be setting a far better example”, Mark commented. “Last week England supporters were castigated for singing against the IRA, not without justification, because football does not need political songs, yet the FAI’s Chief Executive decided it was appropriate to sing in support of a murderous terrorist organisation on the same week.”
“Mr Delaney has been one of the chief architects of the FAI’s underhand recruiting strategy, whereby young players from Northern Ireland youth teams are targeted to play for the Republic. While the Irish FA in Belfast has continued to fight sectarianism on the terraces and field a cross-community team on the pitch, Mr Delaney and his organisation have done their best to segregate football on this island. To now sing IRA songs in public is about as inappropriate as it gets and his employers should consider his position or at least implement disciplinary proceedings.”