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Wed 11 Nov 2002FAI's Abject FailuresThe damning criticism of the Football Association of Ireland contained in the independent report into the events at the World Cup and the FAI's day-to-day operation goes far beyond what was expected. Even those with only a remote interest in soccer expected that the FAI would face severe censure over its handling of events in Saipan, but few anticipated that the report would reserve its most scathing criticism for the association's inability to run a modern, professional sporting body.The three-month investigation has revealed a picture of poor organisation, lack of leadership and failure - bordering on incompetence - in dealing with the fallout from the Roy Keane-Mick McCarthy fiasco. The findings are humiliating for the association.