The FAI has confirmed that it will not pursue the implementation of an aligned calendar as part of its current Football Pathways Plan but has not ruled out revisiting the possibility in the longer term.<\/p>\n
In late 2024, the association’s general assembly voted in favour<\/a> of a phased introduction of an aligned registration period at all levels which would see all grassroots, underage and professional leagues around the country move towards a “summer football” model by 2028.<\/p>\n The men’s and women’s League of Ireland divisions operate according to such a model which normally runs from approximately February\/March until October\/November.<\/p>\n But at the time of the vote, approximately two thirds of grassroots leagues ran their seasons according to a “winter football” structure which in essence starts in August\/September and runs until early summer of the following year.<\/p>\n The potential move to an aligned calendar was met with fervent opposition from a number of leagues and associations, with the potential knock-on effect on participation levels and the competition for players and volunteers from other sports among the factors cited<\/a> by critics.<\/p>\n Earlier in 2024, former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle warned<\/a> that the planned move could see rural clubs lose players at underage level to the GAA in the summer.<\/p>\n Last year, while confirming that their major amateur and youth cup competitions would be switching to a calendar year season, the FAI had also outlined that they would allow leagues to exempt themelves from the proposed alignement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n In April 2025, the FAI’s then grassroots director Ger McDermott and Carlow & District Football League secretary Brian O’Reilly shared their views on the issue on the RT\u00c9 Soccer Podcast.<\/p>\n The Republic of Ireland remains the only UEFA member that does not have an aligned football calendar.<\/p>\n