Sport Ireland refers KOSI report on FAI governance to An Garda Siochana

Sport Ireland, the statutory body for sport in Ireland, has referred the long-awaited KOSI Report in to the Football Association of Ireland to An Garda Síochána.

The independent audit was undertaken by Sport Ireland after it suspended funding to the FAI following alleged irregularities in the association’s accounts earlier this year.

The report was commissioned in order to assess the FAI’s accounts and its suitability to handle public funds, which Sport Ireland had provided in seven figures to the association on an annual basis.

The review came about following revelations in the Sunday Times that then-chief executive John Delaney had provided the association with a €100,000 “bridging loan” to fill a gap in its finances.

"The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, has received the Final Report of the Independent Audit of the FAI, conducted by KOSI Corporation Ltd, on behalf of Sport Ireland,” said a statement released by Minister for Sport Shane Ross.

"The Minister said that Sport Ireland has today referred the report to An Garda Síochána. The Minister will not be a position to publish the report or make any comment on its findings at this time."

The FAI subsequently released a statement acknowledging Sport Ireland’s position and confirming they would co-operate with any Garda investigation.

“The Board of the Football Association of Ireland notes the contents of a statement released today by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, in relation to the KOSI Report commissioned by Sport Ireland,” the statement read.

“The Board has yet to receive the final report from Sport Ireland that was presented to the Minister. As previously stated, the FAI can confirm that all Government money allocated to the FAI by Sport Ireland was spent appropriately and as intended.

“The Board of the FAI and FAI staff are already co-operating fully with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in its enquiry into the FAI.

“The Football Association of Ireland will co-operate fully with any Garda Siochana investigation into FAI affairs on the back of the decision by the CEO of Sport Ireland to refer the report to An Garda Siochana.”