The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has reported a fall in its operating surplus from £973,000 to £809,000 for the year to March 31st, 1998. The decline in the surplus was due to a major increase in expenditure on under-age football, the association says.

Much of the increased expenditure went to defray the costs of participation in the world Under-20 championship, in which the Republic finished third in Malaysia last summer and, to a lesser extent, the European Under-18 championship.

The association significantly increased its income from commercial activities, which were up 72 per cent to £1.26 million. "This was due to the introduction of a number of new sponsorships," said a spokesman.