FAI scupper French game - January 10, 2000
The FAI has refused to sanction this month's u20 international between Ireland and France - because of a row over money!
It's the second failed attempt to arrange an u20 fixture - and u21 manager Don Givens made no attempt to disguise his frustration with Merrion Square.
"I want to impress upon them how important it is for us to have internationals at U20 level to bridge the gap between the youths and U21s," said Givens.
"Last season's youth team was particularly good and while we already have some of them in the U21s, I wanted to use this match to bring in some lads like Keith Foy (Nottingham Forest), Thomas Butler and Brendan McGill (Sunderland) and Jim Goodwin (Celtic)."
Givens arranged the game, scheduled for January 23, before Christmas. But the FAI pulled the plug because of a row over who should pay the expenses. The international committee's budget covers games from u14 to u18 level, while expenses for senior and u21 games come out of the finance committee's budget - leaving u20 fixtures falling between two stools.
However, international committee chairman Michael Hyland says the problem has now been sorted and an u20 game will be arranged before the end of the year.
"Everything has been sorted out and we will be going ahead with an u20 international this season," he stated.