SIPTU members employed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) support the full implementation of a memorandum of understanding concerning the organisation’s future which includes the appointment of six new independent directors. SIPTU Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “Our members wish to the see the full implementation of the memorandum of understanding agreed between the organisation’s chairman Roy Barrett and the former Minister for Sport, Shane Ross, earlier this year. As part of this agreement the FAI received a €35 million bail out from the State. “Our members do not share the concerns expressed by some of the existing FAI directors about the reduction in their numbers and the further appointment of six independent directors. “SIPTU representatives met with Shane Ross to discuss these plans in late 2019 and earlier this year. It is hard to comprehend why some in the FAI are now seeking to revisit an agreement which has financially rescued the organisation and will herald a new era of improved governance. He added: “Our members can fully understand why the present government does not wish to enter into further discussions with the FAI, or any other stakeholders in domestic football, until the terms of the memorandum of understanding are implemented. “It is very important that there is proper reform of the FAI to ensure there is no repeat of the financial and governance crisis which damaged the reputation of the organisation in recent years.”