FAI Press Release. 30th March
FAI notes Government green light for underage training return
The Football Association of Ireland notes confirmation from Government that underage football, Grassroots and League of Ireland, can return to non-contact training from April 26th, the first step on a phased return for football at all levels of the game.
Reacting to the announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, FAI CEO Jonathan Hill has acknowledged the work of Government and its agencies to facilitate the return to training on April 26th, in pods of 15 for all underage players.
The CEO has also assured all amateur adult teams that this return for underage players is the first step towards a return to football for all grassroots players as Ireland eases out of lockdown.
“We obviously see this announcement from Government as a positive for all our underage players who have waited so patiently for the chance to play football again although, of course, we would have loved this to have been from April 5th but we note the realities of the current situation,” said Jonathan Hill.
“Non-contact training in pods of 15 represents the start of a return for our game that will see all our players at all ages permitted to train and then to play in what we hope will be the near future. This battle with COVID-19 has been so demanding for Irish society and our footballers have had to endure so much in Level 5 lockdown.