Irish players in crisis meeting - March 7,
2001
The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland - the Eircom League players' union - meets National League officers today to discuss the foot-and-mouth disease crisis and its affect on their livelihood.
No soccer games will be played this week because of the risk of spreading FMD, for the second week in succession. And with the prospect of the ban on games remaining in place for at least another 30 days, Eircom League clubs will soon start feeling the pinch.
Already, the clubs have warned that they will have to suspend or cancel players' contracts if the ban goes on for much longer.
PFAI representative Pat Fenlon (Shelbourne) said: "This is a worrying time for the players because we have 50 to 60 full time players whose only income is from football. They all have mortgages to pay and families to provide for and are totally dependent on their wages from soccer to cater for those expenses.
"Obviously we want to discuss the situation regarding players' wages and any other proposals that the League and the FAI put on the table."
The Shelbourne midfielder recognised that the clubs will be in genuine difficulties if the suspension of soccer continues - and he wants the Government to pick up the tab and safeguard players' livelihoods.
"All the parties involved want to resolve this problem because it is worrying from everyone's point of view but the powers that be must realise that we have a part to play. I am sure that players in other codes such as rugby are also going to suffer," he said.
"From that regard I would imagine that some sort of compensation will have to be forthcoming from the Government because we do realise that clubs are going to struggle while there are no matches. We are not unaware of this but this is players' livelihoods that are at stake."