Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he would like to see opportunities to grow football on an all-island basis, citing Derry City FC's FAI League Cup win as a reminder of how competition can enhance the sport.
Support for all-island competition
Speaking ahead of an event at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday evening, Mr Martin said he believes there could be potential to develop an all-island competition. The event was part of the centenary celebrations of his Fianna Fáil party, reflecting on the intersection between sport and politics in Ireland.
Currently, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) operates in the Republic of Ireland, while the Irish Football Association (IFA) operates in Northern Ireland, although Derry City FC plays in the FAI system.
Historical context
Mr Martin said he thought the evolution of how soccer developed across the island predated politics and partition in 1921. He noted that soccer was strongly supported by working class communities, with Belfast as the likely industrial capital at that time, leading to significant Unionist and Loyalist participation in soccer and the IFA.
Asked about football across the island, Mr Martin said he believes the two associations could work together to look at potential initiatives. He said he would like to see opportunities to grow football on an all-island basis, but to do it in an agreed way through work between the two associations, whilst they retain their traditions and their various competitions.
Potential for future initiatives
Asked whether he would support the re-establishment of a cross-border championship following the ending of the Setanta Sports Cup, Mr Martin suggested there was potential. He noted he attended the last Setanta Cup final in Dundalk in 2014.
There have been three Fianna Fáil FAI presidents over the years, including former Belfast Celtic goalkeeper Oscar Traynor as well as Donogh O'Malley and Neil T Blaney.
