Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 PM-12:00 AM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

Taoiseach describes FIFA's €5m payout to FAI as "quite extraordinary"

The Taoiseach has described the €5m payout to the FAI following the controversial World Cup ...



Taoiseach describes FIFA's...
Soccer

Taoiseach describes FIFA's €5m payout to FAI as "quite extraordinary"

The Taoiseach has described the €5m payout to the FAI following the controversial World Cup playoff in 2009 as "quite extraordinary".

Enda Kenny has also called for a full investigation into the establishment and running of FIFA's Irish subsidiary, of which Sepp Blatter was chairman.

The Taoiseach says that while the €5m did not come from the Irish taxpayer, the FAI has a duty to answer all questions about it in the interest of public supporters.

He has said he expects a statement from the FAI later this afternoon on the subject, and says he believes the position of FAI chief executive John Delaney is tenable.

The Taoiseach says it is up to John Delaney to make sure all the public's questions are answered:

FIFA says it made the payment after the Thierry Henry handball incident which prevented Ireland from reaching the 2010 World Cup.

Football's governing body says the money was to be used for a stadium and paid back - only if Ireland reached the 2014 World Cup Finals - and that UEFA also contributed.

The payment was written off at the end of last year.

Outgoing FIFA Vice-President Jim Boyce says if the payment was authorised without the knowledge of the FIFA executive committee, it has to be investigated.

Former FAI Chief Fran Rooney says there has been ‘no clear disclosure’ of the money, and the payment was 'not transparent'.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, he said the Association should come forward to show where the money went:

A statement from FIFA confirmed a loan to fund the building of a stadium. The loan was only to be reimbursed if Ireland qualified for the next World Cup in 2014. As they did not, the loan was written-off on December 31 2014.

Yesterday John Delaney confirmed that FIFA made a payment to the FAI following the Henry fiasco.

Speaking on RTE, the FAI Chief admitted 'expletives' were used when he discussed the matter with Sepp Blatter following the World Cup play-off with France in 2009, and the FAI believed it had a legal case against FIFA.

However in an interview on RTE, Delaney refused to confirm reports that the payment was in the region of €5m, saying only "you’ve put a figure out there and fair play to you."

He said it was "a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI," and that he was bound by a confidentiality agreement from discussing any further details.

The FIFA statement in full is below, although the organisation has since clarified that the payment was €5m rather than $5m:

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer