Robbie Keane has been urged to refund his €250,000 a year FAI salary to help fund grassroots football in Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer has continued to receive a salary from the FAI despite leaving the international coaching setup when Mick McCarthy stepped down as manager in April 2020.
Keane was stood down from his assistant role when Stephen Kenny came into the job and opted to bring in his own backroom team, but the former striker's contract with the association does not expire until this summer and the FAI have continued to pay Keane's salary in full.
Senator Micheál Carrigy, Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson for Sports, believes Keane should give the €500,000 he has been paid since back to the FAI so they can distribute the money to youth organisations and local clubs.
He said “Despite having left his coaching position almost two years ago, Robbie Keane is still being paid €250,000 a year by the taxpayer.
“This is happening at a time when local grassroots soccer clubs desperately need increased funding.
“Over half a million has been paid to Robbie Keane by the public since 2020, and yet he has failed to answer questions regarding what he has actually done during the period to earn this salary.
“What work has he done to date since leaving his previous role in 2020? Is he working with the FAI in an active position at the moment? If not, can he stand by earning such an income with very little to show for it?
“The FAI is a publicly funded association, with millions of euros coming from taxpayers’ pockets each year to support its operations. While the organisation does incredible work up and down the country, we cannot sit by and watch hundreds of thousands of euros effectively go down the drain.
“This money is badly needed by youth organisations and local clubs, to improve training facilities, fund coaching and mentoring for young players, and even ensure the futures of some clubs.
“If Robbie Keane has received over half a million euro from the taxpayer for very little work, I believe he should refund this money back to the FAI so that it can be distributed to the local clubs who need it most.
“We simply cannot afford to waste €250,000 each year, when such money would be a gamechanger for players and teams across the country."
The FAI is not entirely funded by the taxpayer, but received €19 million of Government funding due to Covid in December 2021.
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