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THE IRELAND WOMEN’S national team will not report for international duty this afternoon in a further act of protest against the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) treatment of the players.
The squad have decided not to attend today’s training camp ahead of Monday’s friendly against Slovakia, with the players and their Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Siptu representatives set to meet a mediator this evening as the row over payment and compensation continues.
In a statement released this afternoon, Siptu Services Division Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said it was their understanding “that representatives of the FAI will also be meeting with the mediator” but it appears no talks will take place between the players, the association and the PFAI.
It comes after 14 members of the senior squad aired their grievances over their playing and training conditions during an extraordinary press conference at Liberty Hall yesterday.
“At a team meeting the members of the Women’s National Team decided that they are unfortunately unable to attend today’s training camp,” PFAI Player Executive, Ollie Cahill, said.
“The players have not taken this decision lightly. The players wish to make clear that they simply want the FAI to respect their right to choose their own representatives and have all the outstanding issues which are affecting their ability to achieve their maximum potential for their country resolved in a swift, amicable and professional manner.”
The FAI has refused to engage with the PFAI, the players’ body which has been appointed as the team’s representative, with the association insisting that it is a board of management decision and thus policy not to do so.
PFAI player executive Ollie Cahill.
Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
The governing body says that “on five occasions in recent months the FAI has attempted to bring the players to the table, only to have the offer rebuked at every turn,” but the stumbling block remains their unwillingness to engage with the PFAI.
The FAI has remained steadfast in its stance that it will only deal with the players directly via an independent mediator and not recognise the PFAI as their representative, despite the squad clearly stating that that is the way they wish to proceed.
“Members of the team and their PFA Ireland and SIPTU representatives will attend a meeting with a mediator to discuss the issues in this dispute, this evening at 6.00 p.m,” Buckley said in the statement.
“It is our understanding that representatives of the FAI will also be meeting with the mediator.
“The players and their representatives are encouraged by a communication sent to team members today by the FAI inviting them to attend the mediation process along with their representatives.”
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After a huge swell of support for the players following Tuesday’s shocking revelations, Cahill added: “The players would also like to thank the public and the global football community for the overwhelming level of support they have received in the past 24 hours.
“Messages of support have come in to the team from around the world and these have been greatly appreciated by the players.”