The FAI chief has been forced to apologise after a video surfaced online of him singing a Republican ballad in a bar.
This morning, the head of the FAI John Delaney appeared on several different radio stations in an effort to address the video that appeared on YouTube of him singing Republican ballad 'Joe McDonnell' by the Wolfe Tones in a bar.
According to The Guardian, the video was recorded on the same night that the English FA was forced to apologise for the behaviour of England fans who sang anti-IRA songs at Celtic Park in a friendly match against Scotland.
He apologised this morning for any offence caused by his actions, despite the fact that The Guardian and other outlets were told that the official position was that it wasn't Delaney in the video yesterday.
Speaking on 2fm, he said "I'm not someone who supports violence at all. In fact over a large number of years I have been working closely with cross-border initiatives in football to break down barriers", and stated that he regularly has a sing-song when he's out, although it is "normally done in a private way", and you expect it to be kept in the group rather than filmed "in a sly way".
He added that he had not meant to cause offence and that "if the song offends anyone of course I’m sorry, it’s not in my nature to want to offend people". He also appeared on Newstalk to talk with Pat Kenny, and he broke down in tears regarding the abuse that both he and his partner Emma English receive online.
This controversy comes just days after the fan group You Boys in Green claimed that they were manhandled and intimidated as they tried to protest against the association and called for Delaney to be removed from his position as Chief Executive at last Tuesday's friendly match against the United States.
Via The Guardian
