The FAI statement below was released last night and outlines the very positive steps being taken to restart football in Ireland. 

The Football Association of Ireland welcomes the new measures announced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin today, as we continue to work on a safer return for all football under the jurisdiction of the FAI, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These guidelines will come into effect on Monday, June 8th, and will have a positive impact on the plans for the SSE Airtricity League, the Women’s National League, adult amateur and underage football and all other affiliates.

The FAI welcomes the green light from Government for our four European qualified SSE Airtricity League teams – Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, Dundalk and Bohemian FC – to resume collective training on Monday, June 8th.

The FAI are working on a return to training protocol for the other SSE Airtricity League clubs and Women’s National League clubs, based on the new Government guidelines for group training for sports teams involving up to 15 people.

The FAI’s Steering Group are meeting on Saturday morning to draw up protocols for the return to training for adult amateur and underage football under the new Government guidelines and will issue its recommendations as soon as feasible.

To facilitate this vital planning process, and to support clubs with time to put in place the necessary health and safety protocols, no resumption of training under the new Government guidelines is permitted before Monday, June 15th, other than for the four European qualified clubs from the SSE Airtricity League.

The FAI’s Steering Group will examine how these new Government guidelines affect all affiliates. The FAI’s Steering Group will now review the cessation of football directive which currently runs until July 20th.

As noted above, our first team will recommence training at Roadstone from Monday. We will have some photographs to share with the lads back on the pitch later on Monday afternoon.