James McClean has launched a fierce critique of the FAI, accusing them of making "a right b******s out of everything". The footballer expressed his dismay as he believes the FAI's short-term thinking and neglect of the League of Ireland have led to the ultimate decline of the national team.
In a revelation made in October 2023, just a month before earning his 103rd and final cap for Ireland, it emerged that McClean, alongside Seamus Coleman and Gavin Bazunu, had donated €30,000 to a scholarship scheme overseen by the FAI. However, the funds were eventually allocated to a group of women who had brought forward abuse allegations within Irish football dating back to the 1990s, following a significant delay in the distribution of the donation, reports the Irish Mirror.
McClean views the FAI's sluggish management of the funds as indicative of broader issues within the organisation and its failure to support grassroots football. Speaking to the the Irish Independent, McClean said: "This was an opportunity for the FAI to do something good with players who came through the league despite the system," and "I cannot understand why they didn't show more enthusiasm to work with us."
He also highlighted the need for investment in the League of Ireland, stating, "To have a successful League of Ireland, you have to put the work in to grow it. We're at such a disadvantage."
McClean further suggested that while government funding is essential, the FAI also has a significant role to play, adding, "The government should be funding it but the FAI can do more too, so when they turn down money and the time of players with our experience, then it doesn't show me that they are willing to do the right thing."
Wrexham winger James McClean has voiced his concerns about the current state of Irish youth football, comparing it to other nations. He shared insights from his own experiences and observations: "My upbringing was street football. I did end up missing certain attributes in my own make-up as a player because of that."
The Derry native then pointed out the difference in development opportunities for his own son, Junior: "Now I look at Junior and the hours they get each week and the training they go through. There's a plan in place and they are given the opportunity and it's up to them. Back home, they don't have that opportunity and that puts us miles behind."
Expressing concern over the future composition of the Irish national team, McClean speculated: "I think if you look at the national team now, it's probably starting to go that way," citing an ever-growing reliance on players with Irish backgrounds born outside of Ireland.
"Our league needs to be an FAI priority but I do wonder if they care about the League of Ireland or do they expect to have a good national team but not a good domestic league? And hope that players come through academies in England who have Irish parents or backgrounds. That's a sad state of affairs.
"Maybe it's old-school and patriotic, but I feel the head of the association should be Irish and the vast majority of the people running the game should be Irish. I think to grow the game there has to be a consistent approach taken by people who have a connection with the league or a belief in it.
"We just seem to concentrate too much on the short term. I feel like the FAI want and expect the national team to be better, but they aren't prepared to do things that are needed or use the people that are needed. We were willing to give our money and our time for the betterment of Irish football but we were just ignored. I felt it was so disrespectful to us."
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