The FAI is to be hauled before the Public Accounts Committee to explain excess salary payments to its CEO, writes Aisling Moloney.

The powerful Oireachtas public spending watchdog has agreed to call Irish soccer bosses in for a hearing early in the new year.

Last week, the Government suspended the €6.8m in funding to the association over concerns about governance after it emerged FAI boss Jonathan Hill received more than €12,000 in cash for holidays not taken - a breach of the FAI's employee rulebook.

The FAI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government in 2020 when it was granted a €19m bailout.

One of the bailout conditions was that the chief executive's salary must be linked to that of a Government secretary general, which was €216,000 in 2022.

Fianna Fáil's James O'Connor, a PAC member, said the excess salary payments were an issue of "deep concern" for the committee and that the FAI must answer "urgent questions".

Mr O'Connor said at a PAC hearing yesterday: "It has now transpired that the current CEO was paid in excess of €280,000, in 2021 and 2022."

The Cork TD also requested that the PAC look at the "Covid resilience funding" handed out to the FAI.

"It is worth noting that €60m of Government funding was provided to the FAI in the last four years," he said.

"Included in this is €33.7m in Covid grant funding."

He added: "The committee agreed to invite the FAI, along with the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland, before them early in the new year.

"I am deeply concerned about information that has come into the public domain about the FAI. The chief executive has very serious questions to answer.

"My PAC colleagues and I will request the Department of Sport and FAI to come before the PAC early in the new year."

Photo: FAI boss Jonathan Hill. INPHO