THE FAI are showing more respect for the morons than their own league by organising this Manchester United against Sampdoria friendly in August.

You can be sure there’ll be a big crowd at the Aviva Stadium on August 2 and, again, you’d have to wonder why.

3 Manchester United will play Sampdoria in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium in August Credit: Rex Features

In 2014, I said on Soccer Republic that anyone who went to watch Liverpool’s reserves against Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva was a moron.

Well, actually, I said that “42,000 morons” attended the event but you get my point.

It went down like a lead balloon and I haven’t been asked to go on TV since! Brian Kerr did tell me that I have a face for radio, so maybe he was right all along.

But the FAI are catering for them again with this game.

3 Liverpool and Shamrock Rovers played a post-season friendly in front of a large crowd

It’s pre-season so half the Manchester United squad will probably be reserves and, God knows, their first team is bad enough!

And Sampdoria are tenth in Serie A this season.

I had a look at the Italian table and I barely recognised any of the clubs that are going to finish below them so fans aren’t exactly being treated to the giants of Serie A.

But no doubt the airheads that are wowed by a big name and tickets starting at €40 — for the upper tiers no less — will turn out in force.

And that is infuriating ahead of what could be a huge week for domestic football.

Dundalk need to win through one round of the Champions League to set up a clash that could secure group-stage action.

And the second leg of that clash would be the same week as the United v Sampdoria nonsense.

But we could have other major games as well. Cork City, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers are all in Europe as well. They could be in the third round of the Europa League. I hope they all go as far as possible and, should it happen, you can be sure the FAI will look to bask in the limelight.

3 FAI Director of Competitions Fran Gavin

Remember Director of Competitions Fran Gavin claiming last August that the FAI had created the “atmosphere” for the likes of Dundalk’s success?

It rang hollow then and now they’re organising a stupid match that’ll take some of the focus away from what should be a significant few days for the promotion of our game.

Of course, League of Ireland fans will still pay attention.

But what I loved last year about Dundalk’s run was the way the barstoolers backed the Lilywhites.

Living in Dundalk, obviously their games were on TV. But I heard from people all over Ireland who said pubs put on them ahead of United. You’d hope that Dundalk, Cork, Derry or Rovers can build on that.

But the FAI are putting up a roadblock by scheduling this game It’s like someone agreeing to put something in their diary without first looking to see if it’s already a busy week.

Of course, this could all be pointless. Dundalk could go out in their first two outings and the three Europa League clubs may not make it to the third round.

We have watched Irish clubs in Europe for long enough to know that no tie is easy.

But to start putting pointless friendlies up against them is disrespectful by our own football association.