The disgraced John Delaney

t_rAndy wrote: Do you reckon one day we'll be able to look back and laugh at it all?

For some peoples sake, I hope we can.

Are we allowed smirk at the fact we drew with Liechenstein or the Harry Ramsdens challenge yet or is it too soon

We kind of laugh about car park training pitches, about FAI selling out to Spain in a world cup play off in the 60's, players sitting behind officials on planes and wasn't someone in the FAI offloading tickets to touts back in the day. My point being, this comedy of errors and incompetence with the people who have run football in this country in the past eventually becomes a bit funny when you look back. Similar to Irish politics. My take on it anyway, us Irish jus get on with the cards that are that are dealt to us then we find the funny side to it eventually

We are a country that accepts mediocrity. Be it in politics, public services, adminsitration of the likes of the FAI, th workplace etc etc. Those who dont accept it, and desire change and those who get off their arses and do something or try to do something to highlight it and change things are sneered at and lookd down upon.

t_rAndy wrote: We kind of laugh about car park training pitches, about FAI selling out to Spain in a world cup play off in the 60's, players sitting behind officials on planes and wasn't someone in theFAI offloading tickets to touts back in the day. My point being, this comedy of errors and incompetence with the people who have run football in this country in the past eventually becomes a bit funny when you look back. Similar to Irish politics. My take on it anyway, us Irish jus get on with the cards that are that are dealt to us then we find the funny side to it eventually

I think you may well be referring to Joe Delaney or as John Delaney knew him "Daddy".
For anyone unfamiliar with the story, it became known as merriongate:

It slowly emerged that, over the course of Ireland's participation in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals, the FAI had bought non-Irish match tickets and then swapped them for tickets for Republic of Ireland tickets through a London-based ticket agent. The Sunday Independent revealed that this practise had generated a loss of £154,000 in 1990 and £210,000 in 1994. Initially the FAI denied any knowledge of such dealings and tried to ride out the media storm.

The scandal took an unexpected twist when it emerged that the London agent was Greek and travelled under a couple of different names - Theo Severiades and Tio Marcos. The FAI admitted that they had dealings without realising that he was in fact a ticket tout. He had made off with £200,000 of FAI match ticket money.

It emerged that the FAI Honorary Treasurer Joe Delaney (father of the FAI Chief Executive John Delaney and former chairman of Waterford United) had been engaged in the ticket dealing with 'George the Greek' without the knowledge of the FAI Executive Committee. He had denied it at first but later issued a statement saying that he had personally stumped up £110,000 to cover the ticket shortfall.

In the end Joe Delaney had to come up with a total of £210,000 to compensate the FAI for his dealings with 'George the Greek'. He also apologised for not telling the FAI about his curious and highly unorthodox ticketing dealings.

- See more at: http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-history/merriongate.htm#.dpuf

 Like father like son

Absolute gombeen political move, if any of the stakeholders in the fai had a bit of respect they would be disgusted, needless to say this is as far as it will go

Can't believe some people actually thought this was some sort of a master stroke by JD ahead of all the other FA's

RogerMilla wrote: Absolute gombeen political move, if any of the stakeholders in the fai had a bit of respect they would be disgusted, needless to say this is as far as it will go

I think this is the kernel of the issue.  I believe it is generally accepted that Joe Delaney was not involved in the ticket fiasco for personal monetary gain.  He was genuinely trying to get tickets for Irish supporters but in doing so he misused FAI funds and completely exceeded his authority.  Joe wanted to be Mr Popular and thought he knew best and was able to do so because most of his fellow Council members were just along for the jolly and didn't ask questions and made sure not to rock the boat.  Kick on 25 years and nothing has changed.  John Delaney is at the center of Irish football.  He is genuinely not in it for the money although he is getting a nice wedge.  He is jumping two feet first from one controversy to another but as far as he is concerned these controversies are being manufactured by a jealous media.  John firmly believes he is the best thing that ever happened to Irish football and he has all his Council members backing him to the hilt while they continue to enjoy the jolly.  Delaney is drunk on power and able to do what he likes because there is no proper oversight in the FAI.  For me the fault lies with the Council and the stakeholders who elect them. 

Nail on the head JSL