John Fallon: Appetite for change forcing FAI into corner
IRELAND’S unedifying World Cup fallout has left the FAI with plenty on its plate, but their dilemma is whether to adopt the French or Spanish culinary approach.
First option on the menu is going Gallic gourmet. France initially resisted a player rebellion against manager Corrine Diacre before finally buckling just four months ahead of the World Cup.
Officially, at least, a conclusion from interim president Philippe Diallo’s investigation establishing ‘an irreversible divide’ scotched the centurion’s six-year tenure but the notion of travelling to the tournament without the self-exiled Wendy Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto prompted the guillotine.
While Diacre was decrying ‘a smear campaign’, the French hastily moved on by headhunting Herve Renard, reformed the band and are one of the favourites to land their first World Cup on August 20.
Their neighbours and fellow quarter-finalist, Spain, weren’t so reactive to mutinous behaviour.
When 15 of their players collectively opted out of last year’s Euro quarter-final defeat to champions England, manager Jorge Vilda was fully backed by his employers.
That they were prepared to play chicken with the team’s backbone, populated by Barcelona’s Champions League winners, drew praise around Europe amid a worrying trend towards player power.
It was a stance that ruptured friendships between dissidents and remainers.
Three of the 15 — Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Ona Batlle — eventually relented and significantly, back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, also came onside. Injured for the Euros, she wasn’t technically one of the renegades but had pledged solidarity.
“There will be harmony,” promised Vilda, aware of the mistrust. “The objective of
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