Former FAI CEO John Delaney has resigned from his role as UEFA Executive Committee member with immediate effect it has been announced.
Delaney had been part of the committee since February 2017. He also long had an influence in the organisation before this point.
UEFA released a statement confirming the news:
Breaking: John Delaney resigns from UEFA. pic.twitter.com/eacXU9PfVo
— Mark Tighe (@MarkLTighe) January 20, 2020
UEFA takes not of John Delaney's resignation with immediate effect from his position as UEFA Executive Committee member which was due to end in 2021.
During his time on the Executive Committee, John Delaney played a leading role in helping UEFA to achieve many things. He was instrumental in the expansion of the EURO to 24 teams, which proved such a success in 2016.
Several teams that may not otherwise have qualified proved that they have a contribution to make on the biggest stage, with Wales' run to the semifinals and Iceland's elimination of England standing out as examples of this.
He was an important figure in the move to centralise the TV rights across national team competitions - something that has benefited all UEFA member associations and which has rolled out into the new UEFA Nations League tournament.
UEFA wishes him well in the future.
Many speculated that Delaney would take up a full-time role with UEFA after his departure from the FAI, but this now seems unlikely.
The dire financial situation the FAI found themselves in during his time as CEO was unlikely to have helped him with any such ambitions.
