No prospect of Irish soccer unity until the principle of equality accepted, Dublin meeting is told

Dublin, 27 October 1923 - The Football Association of Ireland had achieved a great victory in securing international status for Irish soccer, a well-attended meeting of the Association in Dublin was informed last night. However, the meeting was also told that no unification of Irish football administration was in sight after a conference of FAI and IFA delegates failed to agree on a proposal.

It is understood that the northern representatives were unable to support proposals from their southern counterparts that a new executive committee be formed in which both Free State and Northern Associations had equal representation. Nor could they agree to a proposal that each of the Association’s would enjoy majority representation on a new executive every alternate year.

The Northern delegates were also not inclined to amend their title from the Irish Football Association (IFA) to the Northern Ireland Association.

Pathé footage of the 1923 Dublin Football Derby

Delegates attending last night’s Dublin meeting were updated on these developments by Mr. J.F. Harrison, who also presided. According to Mr. Harrison, there was no prospect of conciliation with the Northern body unless it was on the basis of equal representation on an All-Ireland Executive Council. Nevertheless, even in the absence of such a coming together, the Free State football body now enjoyed an equal status with other countries affiliated to the International Board. 

In other news, the meeting was informed of a letter that had been received from the Secretary of the Board of Works stating that they were unable to approve a request from the Association for additional grounds in the Phoenix Park. And a Shamrock Rovers player has been suspended for the remainder of the season for kicking his Shelbourne opponent during a recent fixture between the two clubs.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]