The crisis swamping FIFA intensified today when it emerged that the FAI was paid off to drop a legal challenge over the Thierry Henry handball controversy in 2009.
A clear double handball by the Barcelona striker helped France past Ireland in a World Cup play-off sparking outrage across the globe at the refereeing mistake and the consequences for Ireland.
As the FBI pour over FIFA documentation every secret deal threatens to become public knowledge with news of the Irish deal emerging earlier tonight.
Adding to the plot it’s unclear whether it was an EBT style loan never to be repaid or a genuine loan with repayment terms!
Confirming the breaking news FAI chief John Delaney said: “We felt we had a legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup play-off hadn’t worked out for us with the Henry handball.
“Also the way Blatter behaved, if you remember on stage, having a snigger and having a laugh at us. That day when I went in, and I told him how I felt about him, there were some expletives used. We came to an agreement.
“That was a Thursday and on Monday the agreement was all signed and all done. It’s a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI.”
A figure of €5m was put to Delaney who replied saying: “I’m bound by confidentiality for naming the figure. You’ve put a figure out there and fair play to you. It was a payment to the association to not proceed with a legal case. In there they signed a confidentiality agreement where I can’t talk about the amount involved.
“You used a figure there, well done to you, but it was a very good and legitimate deal for the FAI.”
Forced into a reply FIFA later stated: “On 18 November 2009, there was a play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland for a place in the 2010 World Cup finals.
“During the match, a handball by France’s Thierry Henry led indirectly to a goal against the Irish team. Ireland did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
“While the referee’s decision is final, and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) ultimately accepted it as such, in January 2010 FIFA entered into an agreement with FAI in order to put an end to any claims against FIFA.
“FIFA granted FAI a loan of US $5 million for the construction of a stadium in Ireland. At the same time, UEFA also granted the FAI funds for the same stadium.
“The terms agreed between FIFA and the FAI were that the loan would be reimbursed if Ireland qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
“Ireland did not so qualify. Because of this, and in view of the FAI’s financial situation, FIFA decided to write off the loan as per 31 December 2014.”
Payouts for refereeing mistakes opens a whole can of worms for the football authorities but it’s likely that much more embarrassing information is certain to emerge in the coming weeks.
