The John Delaney Thread

[thischarmingman]

You think it's ok to accept money for no apparent reason from the governing body? 5m which didn't warrant a note in the FAI statement of accounts. I mean it's unethical just for starters.

This is kind of how I feel I should feel. But I'm with osarusan: we got 5 million we would otherwise never have gotten (the legal case was surely a non-starter).

Doesn't take away from the fact that Sepp is a blight on football, but I think that's a decent day's work from JD. Would be nice to know where it went, of course.

[Real ale Madrid]

This is kind of how I feel I should feel. But I'm with osarusan: we got 5 million we would otherwise never have gotten (the legal case was surely a non-starter).
.

So we got 5m for no reason, from the governing body , but it's ok because we wouldn't have got a cent from a court case! That is deeply troubling for me anyway, especially since we didn't have the financial wherewithall to take a court case even if there was a basis for one.

[osarusan]

You think it's ok to accept money for no apparent reason from the governing body?.

If they were stupid enough to offer it, why not?

After a bit of aimless posturing and being laughed at, Delaney must have been stunned by the offer of 5 million to go away and be quiet.

Sure, the whole thing stinks, but it would have stunk either way. This way, we got money from it.

[thischarmingman]

I agree. And I wish that FIFA and the FAI were above that sort of shady backhander. But that's how FIFA work, and we're only a small country. Look at England - even they couldn't stand up to FIFA on their own. I think it's reprehensible, disappointing, and goes against the spirit of the sport. But that's the game, with FIFA in charge.

That said, the clubs in Ireland who've gone bust/needed funding/struggled since then, and those who've won (fairly ordinary) prize money can legitimately wonder where the cash went.

[Real ale Madrid]

If they were stupid enough to offer it, why not?

After a bit of aimless posturing and being laughed at, Delaney must have been stunned by the offer of 5 million to go away and be quiet.

Sure, the whole thing stinks, but it would have stunk either way. This way, we got money from it.

Ah come off it. That's mental. You can't accept 5m from a governing body an bury it in your accounts. I can't be the only one who smells something can I ?

[geysir]

Ah come off it. That's mental. You can't accept 5m from a governing body an bury it in your accounts. I can't be the only one who smells something can I ?
The quid pro quo that has been mentioned was that Ireland drop any legal action over the Henry hand ball. That sounds bizarre but if FIFA were willing then I'd say yes. Possibly it came after Blatter tried to publicly humiliate the FAI.
If there was any other realistic quid pro quo, then you have to present those possibilities.
The waste is if the money just went on the Lansdowne rd bill, however there was no corruption.

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's absolutely and utterly wrong, and an attitude of "Ah sure, that's just the way these things are done" is part of the reasons FIFA has gotten to the point it has reached. In Irish terms, Delaney should be gone for a start, because this is a bribe by any other name.

"No corruption", but they don't mention it at the time, and only start talking about it as a weird stick to beat Blatter with once he's quit? Come on.

[geysir]

No corruption from a FAI perspective, the money is accounted for, I presume there were no handling fees extracted.
You haven't remotely offered any evidence relating to FAI corruption except the FAI didn't talk about it.
According to the FAI "the settlement was made without any conditions other than confidentiality.”
Is the corruption, that the FAI stuck to the terms of the settlement?
Is it much different than the FAI accepting money from O'Brien to sponsor 50% of the management fees?

[back of the net]

It stinks of f**king hypocrisy accepting it

Delaney should have told Blatter to shove his 5 million up his arse.

It doesnt make a difference how much it meant to adding to the balance - it was an underhanded payoff and Delaney accepting it, just adds to everything else that already makes football so bloody corrupt

By any chance -did our "saviour" john happen to mention what the money was invested in?

[geysir]

Quite frankly BOTN, that's just emotional agenda nonsense.
FIFA were not buying anything from the FAI, there was no corrupt quid pro quo.

[back of the net]

Quite frankly BOTN, that's just emotional agenda nonsense.
FIFA were not buying anything from the FAI, there was no corrupt quid pro quo.

Sorry mate

But there is nothing emotional about it at all



IMO its nothing more than a back hander from FIFA

Morals do come into it - but thats just my opinion - each to their own i guess

I had some laugh at JD announcing publicly that he used expletives towards sepp in the office - slightly ironic that he only announces this 5 years after the event and 2 days after sepp resigns

[GypsyBlackCat]

The whole thing stinks! If Delaney was that adamant that we should get a replay or become the 33rd team at the World Cup he should had stuck to his guns! FIFA more or less gave the FAI hush money to shut us up and to keep us sweet. Anyway you look at it, it's wrong and immoral. It was more or less a bribe. FIFA didn't have to give us a cent. Ok, it was a clear handball but this happens in football. How much did England get for Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany?

[seanfhear]

Crooks accepting bribes ! Crooks giving bribes ! Quelle surprise !

Delaney is going to have some explaining to do. Was this money on the company accounts ! ? ! ?

[pineapple stu]

for the FAI to accept such a pitiful pay-off to quash any bad PR is just revolting.
This is nonsense. We were due nothing from FIFA - bad refereeing decisions happen; they're unfortunate; you have to get over it.

Remember we weren't even qualifying for the World Cup - the game was going to penalties as it stood. Before and after Gallas' goal, we still needed to score one more to qualify over 120 minutes.

So to get E5m where Delaney should have been told to shut his whinging trap is amazing.

Makes me wonder what other elements to the deal there were. And what financial state the FAI would be in now without it.

[DeLorean]

Ok, it was a clear handball but this happens in football. How much did England get for Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany?

Aparently that wasn't the basis for the legal case, but a case against Blatter's unprofessional handling of the situation i.e. taking the p!ss out of us.


Delaney is going to have some explaining to do. Was this money on the company accounts ! ? ! ?

It says it was in the FAI statement, that it went towards the Aviva Stadium and was audited independently. Obviously they should have to produce the statements to prove this.

[gastric]

Interesting article about the blood money. While a little on the emotional side, I think it reflects many supporters point of view.


http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/thierry-henrys-handball-was-shameful-but-fais-actions-were-betrayal-31279637.html

[OwlsFan]

Interesting article about the blood money. While a little on the emotional side, I think it reflects many supporters point of view.


http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/thierry-henrys-handball-was-shameful-but-fais-actions-were-betrayal-31279637.html

Personally I think it was a great coup. Who here was suggesting that the FAI should sue FIFA ? No one because we didn't have a case. However, the FAI to their credit put pressure on FIFA and were obviously going to cause them great embarrassment and managed to get $5 million out of them as a loan to assist the perilous financial position in which the Association found itself. To call it "blood money" is a joke. As one who was in Paris it eases the pain ever so slightly that at least football here got $5 million and FIFA's failure to move with the times and use technology cost them dearly.

As ever with many people as regards the FAI: "damned if you do, damned if you don't". As in many legal settlements, there is a confidentially clause and FIFA obviously didn't want the whole world to know that they had come to a settlement with the FAI as that would have opened a can of worms. It is my understanding that the loan appeared in the FAI accounts unlike the backhanders the corrupt officials were receiving.

Well done to Delaney as far as I can see.

[GypsyBlackCat]

Aparently that wasn't the basis for the legal case, but a case against Blatter's unprofessional handling of the situation i.e. taking the p!ss out of us.



It says it was in the FAI statement, that it went towards the Aviva Stadium and was audited independently. Obviously they should have to produce the statements to prove this.

So the FAI got €5m because Blatter hurt their feelings? Delaney and the FAI deserved to have the p!ss taken out of them for the whole crying over the handball. It was bad enough that we asked for a replay and then asked to be the 33rd team. FIFA didn't owe us a penny. They should have told us to shut up and move on and if the FAI felt that FIFA were taken the p!ss they shouldn't have taken the money.

[jbyrne]

Personally I think it was a great coup. Who here was suggesting that the FAI should sue FIFA ? No one because we didn't have a case. However, the FAI to their credit put pressure on FIFA and were obviously going to cause them great embarrassment and managed to get €5 million out of them as a loan to assist the perilous financial position in which the Association found itself. To call it "blood money" is a joke. As one who was in Paris it eases the pain ever so slightly that at least football here got €5 million and FIFA's failure to move with the times and use technology cost them dearly.

As ever with many people as regards the FAI: "damned if you do, damned if you don't". As in many legal settlements, there is a confidentially clause and FIFA obviously didn't want the whole world to know that they had come to a settlement with the FAI as that would have opened a can of worms. It is my understanding that the loan appeared in the FAI accounts unlike the backhanders the corrupt officials were receiving.

Well done to Delaney as far as I can see.

100% spot on

[DeLorean]

Interesting article about the blood money. While a little on the emotional side, I think it reflects many supporters point of view.


http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/thierry-henrys-handball-was-shameful-but-fais-actions-were-betrayal-31279637.html

I think he's being a bit over the top about Henry. I never particularly liked Henry but I can honestly say that the incident didn't make me like him any less, as sickened as I was with the situation overall. I did think he looked liked a clown sitting on the pitch next to Dunne though, trying to save his inevitably damaged reputation a little. The handballs, both of them, were fairly instinctive, it wasn't as if he blatantly dived to win a penalty, which would have been far more common but also far more repulsive. He could have come clean there and then, of course, but it really is a tiny minority that would do that, especially in a situation of that importance. Jesus, the stuff about Dunne and co having to play in a stadium part funded by their heartache is cringing, they were going to have the heartache either way.

The FAI were probably damned if they did, damned if they didn't. I'd like to know what the reaction would be if it was established now that they refused a €5m offer from FIFA. I'm sure many would see it as remiss if they didn't accept the funds for an organisation desperately in need of them. The moral side of it is debatable I think, it could be simply looked at as compensation for getting screwed out of the chance the qualify for the WC. Two wrongs making a right kind of thing, financially at least. I'm not sure there's a whole lot wrong with lashing the lot straight into the biggest project they had going on at the time either, assuming that is the case, even if it would have received more good will by dividing it amongst the clubs or something along those lines. The nature of the funding would have made this difficult anyway. Overall I think the shame is with FIFA for this one, not the FAI.

Edit- only saw OF's post afterwards, no deliberate plagiarism!

[osarusan]

The FAI were probably damned if they did, damned if they didn't.

I actually don't think they were damned if they didn't.

Game over, handball missed, football world has sympathy for a while....then you just get over it. That's what happens with every crucial bade decision that costs teams.

Then the FAI propose the 33rd team idea, which was laughable, but FIFA's mistake was to publicly laugh at it. Blatter's apology shows he knew it was wrong. And, to the best of everybody's knowledge, it came to an end there. Time to get on with things. I don't think the FAI would have been damned for doing no more at that point.

Except somehow, FIFA decided (for reasons I really can't imagine*) to give the FAI 5 million to go away and be quiet.....FAI and Delaney would be crazy not to take it. Henry Winter in that Indo article says their acceptance of 5 million to be quiet was worse than Henry's 'pollution of the game...contempt and fury' - but I am not sure what it is they could actually make legitimate noise about.

*And I really can't imagine the reasons. What could the legal case have been? I can't think of anything that would have had any merit. Was it bad publicity? I'd say that most neutrals had run out of sympathy for the FAI at that stage - calls for a rematch are grand (but that wasn't going to happen), but the 33rd team idea probably made a lot of people think it was time for the FAI to get over it.

I'm shocked that FIFA offered any money at all, really.

[shakermaker1982]

I can't believe nobody has blamed Roy Keane yet for this episode. If we get two bad results we'll be blaming this as a distraction for the players next.....

If FIFA handed out 5m willy nilly for this what else did they give out over the years?

It's shut up money. If the FAI had their house in order they wouldn't need to take €5m to help build a stadium.

“It’s not about money. This is about sporting integrity.” He quickly changed his tune.

[OwlsFan]

It's shut up money. If the FAI had their house in order they wouldn't need to take €5m to help build a stadium.

To be fair, they apparently had their funding in order for the stadium until the bust came just as they were trying to flog off the corporate boxes etc in the new stadium. They were far from the only ones to be caught with their pants down.

[pineapple stu]

I'm shocked that FIFA offered any money at all, really.
Yeah, that's what I can't get my head around either.

If it came out that Delaney was offered E5m and refused it, he'd be vilified too.

Can't really blame him for taking money that was offered to him/the FAI. Just wonder did he have other dirt on Blatter?

[shakermaker1982]

If Delanay had said no and then told the world FIFA tried to buy em off he'd have gone up in my estimation.

What's even more pathetic is him making out he was the big man storming into Blatter's office and expletives were used. ******.

Once you take the money you've got no leg to stand on. FIFA will expect your support.

[pineapple stu]

Those kind of things can be hard to prove though. You're leaving yourself open to a libel case.

Yeah, the rest of his comments are nonsense obviously.

This is just Delaney acting the big man, kicking Blatter when he's down.

[osarusan]

If Delanay had said no and then told the world FIFA tried to buy em off he'd have gone up in my estimation.

'buy em off'...but what exactly is it that FIFA were buying? I mean what would Delaney have told the world? 'FIFA offered us 5 million to stop mentioning the play-off, but we refuse to stop?'

[seanfhear]

It goes to show the kind of money that was sloshing around Fifa when they can drop 5 million euro to the FAI at the drop of a hat.

It is real Mafia stuff.

"The Irish were disrespected "….."Drop them 5 million to respect their disrespect"

As the "Corleonis" would say…"Its business"…..Maybe Don Delaney is lucky that he is not sleeping with the Fishes.

[shakermaker1982]

There would have been minutes of the meeting I'm presuming and a proper agreement in place just before this crazy deal was signed. This would have caused a massive **** storm at the time if it was leaked. You don't wire €5m across and no questions are asked from a governance perspective.

If a contractor/organisation starts offering me cash and I did have the morals of a politician/Mafia crime boss I'm presuming there would be a tacit admission that I wouldn't rock the boat here on in. You've gotta tow the party line - there won't be anything written down on paper (I'm guessing -though Delaney and FIFA are so fking stupid it wouldn't surprise me) but you don't take £5m and then act the spoilt and jilted lover.

We probably only know 1% of what has gone on (worldwide). I imagine this is is the tip of the iceberg.....

[GypsyBlackCat]

'buy em off'...but what exactly is it that FIFA were buying? I mean what would Delaney have told the world? 'FIFA offered us 5 million to stop mentioning the play-off, but we refuse to stop?'

Votes? It's the FIFA way. FAI were outraged by the handball and no doubt would have voted against Blatter and his crew in the next elections. It's real mafia stuff. Keep the little guy happy. Just look how they manage to keep the African and Asian nations happy.

It's like something in a mobster movie. The little guy is acting up, so pay the little guy some money to keep quiet. Let's show we're nice guys. Basically, FIFA 'Delaneyed' the FAI.

[geysir]

It's not Delaney's job to look a 5m gift horse in the mouth, nor is he responsible for the grubby affairs of Fifa.
However we do have the right and expectation that FAI financial affairs are run to accountable standards.
We may have varying opinion about Delaney as CEO, I shudder at the mere sight of his face in the media but afaiaa the FAI finances are transparent. Gripes for example are concerning the balance of income directed at the international game Vs the home game and the disturbing sight of the expanding cult of John Delaney.

[jbyrne]

It's like something in a mobster movie. The little guy is acting up, so pay the little guy some money to keep quiet.

as you say yourself we are just the little guy, so did anyone else actually really care except us about handball henry? it made good news for a day or two but after that others just moved on.
that being the case why would FIFA care so much about keeping us quiet. reality is they didn't really give a hoot and that's what annoyed most of us

[geysir]

You might wonder what the scale of payments/bribes was at in FIFA if John D could say, '5 will do us rightly' and Blatter doesn't blink an eye, he even assumes millions.

[osarusan]

We may have varying opinion about Delaney as CEO, I shudder at the mere sight of his face in the media but afaiaa the FAI finances are transparent.

Is there anywhere we can see the accounts/finances?

They publish an Annual Review, which includes a financial review, but that isn't exhaustive by any means.

Delaney said that the independent auditors had said it's all above board, but who actually gets to see them?

I'd be interested in if/how the money is accounted for.

Anybody like the smell of fresh tippex?

[pineapple stu]

There would have been minutes of the meeting I'm presuming and a proper agreement in place
There would have been minutes in place of a meeting where a bribe was offered?

[Real ale Madrid]

Is there anywhere we can see the accounts/finances?

Delaney said that the independent auditors had said it's all above board, but who actually gets to see them?

I'd be interested in if/how the money is accounted for.

Anybody like the smell of fresh tippex?

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/fai-s-5m-fifa-payment-not-apparent-in-published-accounts-1.2238001


Quote by John Delaney: It’s not about money. This is about sporting integrity.

[punkrocket]

There would have been minutes in place of a meeting where a bribe was offered?

But if it was, as Delaney says, legit then why wouldn't there be any.

Typical gombeen behaviour in a country full of them.

[osarusan]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/fai-s-5m-fifa-payment-not-apparent-in-published-accounts-1.2238001
Thanks for the link.

From that link:


In the Morning Ireland interview Delaney also stated that: “We have an AGM every year, our accounts are given to the public, our members. I don’t know what more we can do in terms of being open and transparent. Our members are very happy with the way the association is being run.”

Yet there appears to be no mention in the accounts for 2009 or any of the next four years of any money coming in from Fifa, whether as a loan, grant or legal settlement.

If the money was only written off in the wake of Ireland failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup it might only count as income in last year’s accounts which have yet to be published.
FAI statement

In a statement released on Thursday night, the FAI insisted that the payment “is fully reflected in our financial statements which are audited independently”.

This suggests that the money was included under the heading “Operating Income,” a catchall section in which just about all income not specifically required to be listed elsewhere is lumped together.

If so, it seems remarkable that such a huge sum – more than 10 per cent of total income in an average year – would not have merited a specific mention and explanation from an organisation that claims to be transparent.

Quite a few other, much smaller grants, like one for €2,600 from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in 2011 do get a mention and even if the money was a loan, one of that scale clearly merits inclusion and explanation under the relevant sections so that the membership would be aware of it.

Either way, the suggestion that the transfer of money like this between two football organisations should be subject to a confidentiality agreement seems entirely at odds with a stated wish for transparency.

Very interesting indeed.

[pineapple stu]

But if it was, as Delaney says, legit then why wouldn't there be any.

Typical gombeen behaviour in a country full of them.
But the point being made was that Delaney should have refused the money and gone accusing Blatter of bribing him.

I'd be fairly sure that would be very difficult to prove.

Blatter's not that stupid that he'd minute "Offered Delaney E5m in bribe. Was refused"


If the money was only written off in the wake of Ireland failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup it might only count as income in last year’s accounts which have yet to be published.
That seems the best way to account for it in fairness.

Though if that's where it is, it begs the question of how he was going to explain it if Blatter hadn't been kicked out.

Although maybe a contingent liability disclosure could have been expected.

[geysir]

Is there anywhere we can see the accounts/finances?

They publish an Annual Review, which includes a financial review, but that isn't exhaustive by any means.

Delaney said that the independent auditors had said it's all above board, but who actually gets to see them?

I'd be interested in if/how the money is accounted for.

Anybody like the smell of fresh tippex?
You're right, there are just figures but no accounts and probably much fog produced to hide the Aviva financial black hole.
We are told that the FAI accounted for the 5m by the FAI deep throat (http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-how-fifas-5m-was-put-on-fais-books-31280234.html), who is actually Delaney in disguise doing his best Albert Reynolds impression.
“It’s reflected as a loan from FIFA initially in the accounts but when €1m of it was written off in 2011, and €4m was written off in 2013, it appears in the receipts as income,”

“€1m appears as turnover for 2011 and €4m of appears as turnover for 2013. It’s recorded under receipts or turnover,”

[punkrocket]

But the point being made was that Delaney should have refused the money and gone accusing Blatter of bribing him.

I'd be fairly sure that would be very difficult to prove.

Blatter's not that stupid that he'd minute "Offered Delaney E5m in bribe. Was refused"



No he's not and neither, contrary to appearances, is Delaney. He should have known that such side deals (unspoken, unminuteable ) are kinda dodgy so he has no place to be spouting guff about the legitimacy of this sordid mess. He was correct that Blatter was an embarrassment but god almighty he's embarrassing the lot of us now.

I don't buy for a minute that dodgy John should be applauded for getting the FAI a few quid as a back hander - ah sure fair play to him didn't he show them boys in Switzerland a thing or two. That's the kind of brown envelope thinking that had the whole country screwed not so long ago, and then he has the gall to go on about integrity.

If there's any justice both he and Blatter will be gone soon.

[shakermaker1982]

The FAI and FIFA aren't stupid enough to type out 'a bribe of €5m was offered' but

Sepp Blatter kindly offered Mr lover lover man Delaney a 'loan' to assist with the construction of the Aviva Stadium on the understanding that the FAI confirm that they no longer pursue legal action against FIFA connected to the incident in Paris.

Or something similar will be on a Word file somewhere. I bet there is a paper trail. Were they upfront with the independent auditors?

[OwlsFan]

I don't buy for a minute that dodgy John should be applauded for getting the FAI a few quid as a back hander - ah sure fair play to him didn't he show them boys in Switzerland a thing or two. That's the kind of brown envelope thinking that had the whole country screwed not so long ago, and then he has the gall to go on about integrity.

If there's any justice both he and Blatter will be gone soon.

"A few quid" - $5 million apparently for a cash strapped organisation. You must be a wealthy man to call that a few quid.

"backhander" - in what way was this an illegal payment ? For reasons already explained, it HAD to be confidential as otherwise everyone who lost to an offside goal, ball not over the line etc would be looking for their pound of flesh.

"didn't he show them boys in Switzerland a thing or two" - if you mean fighting for compensation, and being ridiculed in the process, for an appalling miscarriage of justice and being laughed at by the President of FIFA and his minions, and getting some compensation for Irish football for this behaviour, then yes I say fair play to him.

IF there was no personal reward and IF the loan was vetted and appeared in the accounts, I think it was an excellent days work. I I fail to see the lack of integrity.

CEO gets compensation for Irish football for Ireland being cheated out of place in World Cup - demands made for his sacking as a consequence. Huh.

[shakermaker1982]

Why were we entitled to compensation? As if any court of law would side in our favour that we were entitled to compo because the match officials didn't spot two handballs? Mistakes are made every time an official steps over the white line.

Instead - here you go FAI. Have a cheque, stop rocking the boat by spouting nonsense and start tallying the party line like a good little organisation.

[Real ale Madrid]

it HAD to be confidential as otherwise everyone who lost to an offside goal, ball not over the line etc would be looking for their pound of flesh.
.

And who could blame them - We should be forced to give the money back now - otherwise FIFA have set a precedent.

[Closed Account 2]

Personally I think it was a great coup. Who here was suggesting that the FAI should sue FIFA ? No one because we didn't have a case. However, the FAI to their credit put pressure on FIFA and were obviously going to cause them great embarrassment and managed to get $5 million out of them as a loan to assist the perilous financial position in which the Association found itself. To call it "blood money" is a joke. As one who was in Paris it eases the pain ever so slightly that at least football here got $5 million and FIFA's failure to move with the times and use technology cost them dearly.

As ever with many people as regards the FAI: "damned if you do, damned if you don't". As in many legal settlements, there is a confidentially clause and FIFA obviously didn't want the whole world to know that they had come to a settlement with the FAI as that would have opened a can of worms. It is my understanding that the loan appeared in the FAI accounts unlike the backhanders the corrupt officials were receiving.

Well done to Delaney as far as I can see.

Agree entirely. We've all seen how Legia nearly stymied the Champions League qualifiers back in August, by threatening to go to the CAS (and that was a result of their own error - inability to fill in a simple form), we've seen that the Uzbekistan - Bahrain game in 2005 set a pseudo-precedent for replaying a match in a WC playoff as a result of controversial decisions. We know that Blatter's comment about a request to be a 33rd team (which may well have been mooted in a private conversation between FAI and FIFA officials) sullied Irish football. Could the FAI have taken FIFA to CAS (or another similar body) for damages? Yes... Would they have been likely to win? No, probably not. Is it a pleasant way of conducting business? Arguably not... But after feeling "wronged" the FAI were entitled to seek a form of recompense be it financial or sport related.

There was a discussion between the FAI (who felt wronged / illegitimately denied a place at the WC) and FIFA (who probably felt France's qualification should stand, but wanted to avoid any protracted argument). Various options were discussed, probably including compensation, a possible replay, the 33rd team option, perhaps better seeding, (As an aside I believe we/FIFA started preliminary negotiations with CONMEBOL to be one of the two guests at the Copa America in 2011 - in the end it was Mexico's U23 (Olympic) team and Costa Rica (who replaced Japan), but Platini said he wouldn't allow a UEFA nation to be a guest). In the end a financial compensation package was agreed and it seems to have been used to pay down the stadium debt. These sort of non-disclosure financial payouts, compensating for "undue losses" to prevent legal claims are not that rare in other industries.

[punkrocket]

"A few quid" - $5 million apparently for a cash strapped organisation. You must be a wealthy man to call that a few quid.

"backhander" - in what way was this an illegal payment ? For reasons already explained, it HAD to be confidential as otherwise everyone who lost to an offside goal, ball not over the line etc would be looking for their pound of flesh.

"didn't he show them boys in Switzerland a thing or two" - if you mean fighting for compensation, and being ridiculed in the process, for an appalling miscarriage of justice and being laughed at by the President of FIFA and his minions, and getting some compensation for Irish football for this behaviour, then yes I say fair play to him.

IF there was no personal reward and IF the loan was vetted and appeared in the accounts, I think it was an excellent days work. I I fail to see the lack of integrity.

CEO gets compensation for Irish football for Ireland being cheated out of place in World Cup - demands made for his sacking as a consequence. Huh.


Hee hee a wealthy man, never been called that before. Feels good. In the grand scheme of things 5 million isn't that much, at least we now know our price. I wonder what the other recipients of FIFA's largesse have their price down for. As someone else has already said, Dodgy Delaney usually gets away with handing out a few cans of beer, same sh!t as Blatter only on a parish pump scale.

Off the books stuff, and until it shows up in the accounts is exactly what it is, I call backhanders. Maybe 5mil is too much for an envelope but I'm sure it would fit into a wee brown box.

I'd rather be laughed at by FIFA insiders, bad enough as it is, than by the rest of the world some of whom are actually deserving of respect. We are showing ourselves up to be an unreconstructed land of Gombeens and deserve all the ridicule we get.

[geysir]

And who could blame them - We should be forced to give the money back now - otherwise FIFA have set a precedent.
If Blatter by his actions set precedents, FIFA would have to disband. The FAI received the money in good faith and used it for football purposes.
This will be regarded as Blatter pulling the wool over FIFA and if he can do that with Eur 5m in the blink of an eye, what other strokes has he managed. Delaney's rabbit pull was that FIFA lent the FAI $5m and Delaney admirably pulled out Eur5m.

[Closed Account 2]

Why were we entitled to compensation?

From a business point of view you could argue that by not making the world cup due to refereeing negligence the association missed out on due revenues.

"[winners] would receive a total of $31m (£18.7m). The runners-up will get $24m, semi-finalists $20m and the quarter-finalists $18m each. Teams that reach the second round will get $9m and even those eliminated in the group phase will receive $8m. Each team have already received $1m from Fifa towards their "preparation costs"."
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/03/world-cup-2010-prize-money

And the above is just "prize" money, the relevant FAs would also be likely to get increase revenues from sponsorship, media rights etc.


As if any court of law would side in our favour that we were entitled to compo because the match officials didn't spot two handballs? Mistakes are made every time an official steps over the white line?

I agree it would have been unlikely, but if the FAI felt like bringing legal proceedings they were entitled to do that (or threaten to do that), it would have been up to the courts to decide on the case for compensation, the amount of compensation and the billing of legal costs. It's perhaps a bit of a grubby way of doing things but many individuals/organizations use the threat of legal action to obtain recompense from other parties... For instance it's common place in America (not that I'm saying that's good).

You could argue that the stage of the incident was what made it different from a mistake " made every time an official steps over the white line". The decision was in extra time in a match which was very binary in terms of qualification for the World Cup, it was a sort of Cup Final if you will. A few years ago I think a ref gave a ghost goal for Reading in a league match vs Watford (I think there was a hole in the net or something), there was a degree of outcry, but there were many more league matches left in that season. If the ghost goal had been given in extra time in Watford's playoff final vs Crystal Palace (2-3 years ago) you would imagine the outcry would have been much bigger as there would have been so much more riding on the outcome of that decision.

[pineapple stu]

The FAI and FIFA aren't stupid enough to type out 'a bribe of €5m was offered' but

Sepp Blatter kindly offered Mr lover lover man Delaney a 'loan' to assist with the construction of the Aviva Stadium on the understanding that the FAI confirm that they no longer pursue legal action against FIFA connected to the incident in Paris.

Or something similar will be on a Word file somewhere. I bet there is a paper trail. Were they upfront with the independent auditors?
But if it's minuted as a loan, you can't turn it down and openly announce blatter tried to bribe you. You'll get sued to high hell