Robbie & Co. join Irish union - March 2,
2001
Ireland's international soccer stars have given their Eircom League colleagues a massive boost by joining the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland.
Fifteen senior internationals, including Robbie Keane, Kenny Cunningham and Steve Staunton, have signalled their solidarity by agreeing to join the Irish players' union. The fifteen are already members of the British equivalent, the PFA - but they have now taken out associate membership of the Irish body as well.
It's a real coup for the PFAI and one that will add prestige and profile - and it comes just when the PFAI is facing its potentially greatest challenge, with the news that Eircom League clubs are considering the suspension of players' contracts if the current fixtures ban continues for any length of time (see 'Irish clubs face financial crisis' above).