Irish FA president quits

Raymond Kennedy, the beleaguered president of the Irish Football Association, has quit, the IFA said Tuesday, following a damning report, but will still play a role in determining the laws of football.

Kennedy, who is stepping down following the report into the sacking of former chief executive Howard Wells, will also keep his FIFA and UEFA roles.

The IFA, which runs the game in Northern Ireland, carries international weight because it holds a permanent seat on the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The governing bodies from the “Home Nations” – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – all have a vote each, while world governing body FIFA has four.

The IFAB determines the laws of the game. Its deliberations must be approved by at least six votes.

Kennedy was forced to step down after it emerged the sacking of Wells cost the association more than half a million pounds (750,000 dollars).

The IFA said in a statement that Kennedy told them Monday that he would step down as president and an IFA director at its next council meeting in September.

He will become an IFA honorary life vice president.

“He will continue in his roles as a member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, and the UEFA Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee,” the statement said.

“Mr Kennedy will also be a member of the IFA’s delegation to the 125th annual general meeting of the IFAB, which will be held in Wales in March 2011.”

It added: “The association is aware that recent events have indicated weaknesses in its structure and governance, and confirms its commitment to address these matters in the near future.”