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Political Football

John Bruton appointment to top Euro sports job a blow to Áras hopeful Sean Kelly?

Former Taoiseach lands plum sports body job in Europe.

IN AN APPARENT snub of former Gaelic Athletic Association chief Sean Kelly, one-time Taoiseach John Bruton has been appointed the chairman of the EU Sports Platform.

The forum helps sports groups throughout Europe to understand the European Union’s growing role in sports policy-making.

The post would undoubtedly be a job that former GAA president and current MEP Sean Kelly might well have fancied.

Any disappointment from the Kerryman will be keenly felt in the wake of his confirmation that he wishes to run for the office of Ireland’s president.

He recently tweeted to followers that he is ‘getting serious’ in his bid for the Áras.

Ex-Taoiseach and EU ambassador to Washington, Bruton will bring his ‘political knowledge, experience and contacts’ to help improve understanding inside the sports world of how and why it will be affected by the decisions of the European political institutions, and the judgements of the European courts, according to RTÉ.

Bruton said:

The new sports competence in the Lisbon Treaty means it has never been more important for sports of all sizes to engage with the EU.

This is a pivotal moment and we want to ensure that sports bodies at all levels can benefit from the new EU Sports Policy.

The former Fine Gael leader will take up the chairmanship of the body, which has 78 sporting members from across Europe, on December 1.