Spotlight on FAI supremo Hill ahead of Public Accounts session

Pressure is growing on FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill ahead of Thursday’s appearance in front of the Government’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

General governance throughout the football structure and the distribution by the FAI of €33.7m in Covid-19 resilience funding are on the agenda at Leinster House, but the circumstances around Hill receiving €12,000 in lieu of holidays remains under scrutiny.

The income – which Hill repaid following its discovery during an audit commissioned by state agency Sport Ireland – was against FAI policy and brought the supremo in excess of the maximum salary levels imposed as part of the State’s bailout terms.

Hill’s assertion that he didn’t request the special treatment personally was queried by a different committee in December.

Alan Dillon, a member of the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media forum, branded the version presented as ‘cock and bull story’ and outlined the need for documentary evidence to be furnished ahead of their return to Kildare Street.

Mr Dillon, a two-time All-Star from his days playing for Mayo, is also part of the 12-person PAC due to grill the FAI delegation on Thursday.

Board members unhappy with the secretive payment, approved by then chairman Roy Barrett without their knowledge, had also sought supporting email trails on the topic.

It’s believed incoming chairman Tony Keohane led the internal probe digging into all relevant facts but in seeking a second adjournment to their visit last Thursday, he admitted they’d been unable to finalise materials requested by both the PAC and Sport Ireland.

Approval of these items required legal approval, he detailed, insisting sign-off may not be forthcoming by the deadline imposed of Friday.

PAC officials