The interim chief of the FAI, Noel Mooney, has said he is 'ashamed' at the corporate governance issues Irish football has endured in recent months.
The Football Association of Ireland are undergoing a range of investigations into their affairs, including one from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. State funding has been withheld from the Association as a result.
Mooney is on a secondment from UEFA for six months under the title of 'General Manager for Football Services and Partnerships'. Effectively, he is in charge of the Association in the wake of former CEO John Delaney's resignation from the top administrative position.
The Limerick native and former Cork City goalkeeper spoke at a public event for the FAI's official League of Ireland podcast in Dublin's Sugar Club on Monday.
Mooney said he could understand why supporters would engage in anti-FAI chants at Republic of Ireland games:
"I understand because what's happened over the last few months, I am angry. I am disappointed and ashamed at how our beautiful game has gone, what has happened has put Irish football in a difficult spot. When we don't do what we should do, we should be ashamed. It's right that people should talk about it, but it's our responsibility to make football the best it can be.
He added: "There are lots of ares where the FAI are good, there are great people working there, but I do believe what has happened there is not good enough, the fans should voice their concerns, they should put up banners."
Mooney is a former employee of the FAI. He claims the Association went stale under Delaney:
"My eyes are open to staleness, we had a CEO who was there for 15 years, a long time, and it's hard to keep that motivation for such a long time and there are areas where we need to be refreshed."
