The John Delaney Thread

[DannyInvincible]

Peter O'Reilly and Mark Tighe co-authored a piece on the issue in yesterday's Sunday Times where they'd obtained a quote from some spokesman or other from Our Wee Country saying that Delaney must lose his position over this. I thought it was a pity because it's not really his place to be making those sort of demands. I'd find it very inappropriate if somebody spoke on behalf of YBIG about the suitability of whoever is in charge of the Nordie association.

I wouldn't take that "spokesman" seriously. Now, will the real Gary McAllister please stand up?


It's a touchy subject for many, including me, most on OWC as above and many in the wider NI support. Some responses above aren't at all emotive, but they're no more rational as a result.

The problem here isn't republicanism or protestantism, but treating fairly recent paramilitary violence as an excuse for mawkish singalong. Not his only error of judgment, but clearly a big one. There's little point Bonnie reiterating that it isn't an issue, we just won't agree.

I can appreciate your own (rational) sensitivity to it and why it has the potential to cause both valid rational and emotional distress to a significant proportion of the population in the north. The potential for exaggerated outrage from the serially offended is also worth acknowledging. I was simply explaining my own personal position in relation to the particular song (and how it's possible to distinguish republicanism from anti-Protestantism without necessarily being touchy about it or emotionally-biased), but it's not really all that relevant to the discussion when I can see past that and recognise that there will be others on the island of Ireland who most certainly would not share my personal indifference to Delaney's song choice. That's undeniably an issue and it's why it was indicative of poor judgment on Delaney's part.


Again, Delaney is a bare-faced liar, but that's not really something that should concern a fan group of a foreign nation either.

Nation?! I do agree otherwise though. I would never say the IFA's matters are my business, whether that be the conduct of their members, the symbols with which they seek to identify or whatever it is with which they're embarrassing themselves this weather... :p

The obvious exception in recent years has been my engagement in the eligibility issue which did/does directly involve northern Irish nationals and numerous players one or two degrees of separation away from me personally who are eligible and willing to play for us, so it's only appropriate I would have a justifiable say and a stake in that given I have very-much-immediate family and friends from just across the other side of the border also.


The big issue now is the instruction given to lawyers to deny it was JD and to threaten newspapers for telling the truth. Furthermore JD didn't have the decency to admit it was he who issued the denial, it was someone else who gave the lawyers this erroneous info. Then when it became obvious it was him in the video he claimed he was uncontactable by his colleagues because his partner was being cyber bullied (because some idiots wrote about her on YBIG.ie - which I presume she would have to have been reading at the time because the offending posts were deleted) which caused the misunderstanding between the FAI and the lawyers. We are asked to believe she was so shocked that he needed to console her for, what was it, two days? Then she goes and directly forwards insults to Emmet Malone's Twitter account, showing that maybe she is not so sensitive to the issue of cyber bullying after all.

It's also hard to believe that he was aware of and had seen the abuse on YBIG, that wasn't up for very long at all before being deleted by a moderator, but wasn't aware of the exact nature or description of a video that had surfaced on Balls.ie on the Friday night bearing his and Joe McDonnell's names and that an FAI representative had contacted Balls.ie about on the Saturday morning to threaten with an order for removal. If Delaney had no knowledge of the video or of its content then (and I don't know how he couldn't have, or for the two subsequent days), what qualified the FAI rep to make such a brazen threat to Balls.ie?


Not in the public domain for legal reasons.

Is the nature of this allegation too sensitive to even provide a clue? :o

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, I believe it is.

[bennocelt]

I don't have a problem with the song, but I will bet anything this will flare up when England come to town, no doubt about it. Singing the song at the same night English fans were giving an alternative was pretty stupid. FFS there is about a million things he could be doing in a pub rather than doing the rebel "hits". Cough cough! Ha;)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Again, if Delaney wasn't Chief Executive of the FAI this wouldn't be an issue but he is. He is not a fan. He has duties and responsibilities as a diplomatic representative of our country. It's embarrassing enough seeing a Chief Executive getting publically drunk and making a fool of himself in foreign countries. This just takes it to another level.

Don't mix politics and football. It's a thin line, as Simunic and others have figured out. Somehow I don't think Delaney will get the same punishment though.

Interesting how Stokes actions & sympathies make him an IRA sympathiser in on one argument yet in another Delaney is just a harmless enthusiast of Irish rebel songs. Strange that..

Edit: WTF is he actually thinking like. There are already mild security issues to worry about when we host England. It's extremely foolish behavior when you actually think about it.

As for the YBIG crowd. Not the first time borderline litigious comments have been made. Only difference is now they are under a microscope.

[osarusan]

Given the song, I think it is the business of NI fans also.

Delaney singing in a pub - not much for them to care about.

Delany singing song about IRA member, and hunger-striker - I'd say it is their business.

[BonnieShels]

Again, if Delaney wasn't Chief Executive of the FAI this wouldn't be an issue but he is. He is not a fan. He has duties and responsibilities as a diplomatic representative of our country. It's embarrassing enough seeing a Chief Executive getting publically drunk and making a fool of himself in foreign countries. This just takes it to another level.

He has no diplomatic duties whatsoever outside of his citizenship.
Again, the issue has moved on from the song. We need to forget about it at this stage and concentrate on the absolutely gubu reaction that occurred after the video appeared and the subsequent denials.


Don't mix politics and football. It's a thin line, as Simunic and others have figured out. Somehow I don't think Delaney will get the same punishment though.

It's something that someone should attempt to do but not always possible. Comparing Simunic and Delaney and punishments that should be meted out is bizarre. They're barely comparable. Stop bringing it up.


Interesting how Stokes actions & sympathies make him an IRA sympathiser in on one argument yet in another Delaney is just a harmless enthusiast of Irish rebel songs. Strange that..

Stokes' has a reputation built up over the years.

Attending a benefit for Alan Ryan helps that reputation I suppose.
http://www.thescore.ie/celtic-warn-irish-striker-anthony-stokes-following-alan-ryan-event-in-dublin-712003-Dec2012/

And as someone who used to live beside the Players Lounge and used to pop in to watch the odd match from time-to-time. To say the clientele was infamous and questionable was an understatement.


Edit: WTF is he actually thinking like. There are already mild security issues to worry about when we host England. It's extremely foolish behavior when you actually think about it.

He clearly wasn't. The singing of the song wasn't inherently wrong nor offensive to most.
The English lads who will want to cause trouble will cause it besides. No need to use JD and his warbling as the reason.


As for the YBIG crowd. Not the first time borderline litigious comments have been made. Only difference is now they are under a microscope.

Wouldn't kill them to have a moderator alright.


Given the song, I think it is the business of NI fans also.

Delaney singing in a pub - not much for them to care about.

Delany singing song about IRA member, and hunger-striker - I'd say it is their business.

Meh. You are giving oxygen to the serially offended. This is just the latest thing for some of the knuckledraggers to complain about.

Let the OWC crowd cry and moan. In the meantime let's focus on the real issue and the ridiculous handling of this whole episode by our CEO.

[osarusan]

In the meantime let's focus on the real issue and the ridiculous handling of this whole episode by our CEO.

That's the real issue for you obviously, because you don't find the song offensive.

For other people, the song itself may still be a real issue.

And I don't think those people can be neatly dismissed as the 'serially offended' or that it is fair to dictate to people what they can and can't find offensive, or what is or is not their business.

[BonnieShels]

That's the real issue for you obviously, because you don't find the song offensive.

For other people, the song itself may still be a real issue.

And I don't think those people can be neatly dismissed as the 'serially offended' or that it is fair to dictate to people what they can and can't find offensive, or what is or is not their business.

And for those, let them continue to fill the airwaves with their bleating over the offensive nature of the song.

Myself and others on here have moved this discussion on repeatedly only for it to be brought back to the "song" again and again.

Do you find it offensive or are you getting offended on behalf of others that you don't know?

I think that with some pretty good accuracy, that to call someone who bleats about this over on OWC or a DUP councillor or Willie Frazer as serial offended is hardly a slur.

[osarusan]

Myself and others on here have moved this discussion on repeatedly only for it to be brought back to the "song" again and again.
Maybe that's because people have different ideas on what should be the focus of the discussion.



Do you find it offensive or are you getting offended on behalf of others that you don't know?
.

Neither. What I don't agree with is the argument that anyone who finds it offensive only does so because they have an agenda.


I think that with some pretty good accuracy, that to call someone who bleats about this over on OWC or a DUP councillor or Willie Frazer as serial offended is hardly a slur.

Bleat, moan, knuckle dragger, OWC crowd, serially offended...I think it's very unfair to generalise about people who would be offended by what Delaney was singing about in this way.

Sure there will be people who are only too happy to have something to complain about, but I think it's very unfair to assume that they are the only kind of people who could be offended.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Given the song, I think it is the business of NI fans also.

Delaney singing in a pub - not much for them to care about.

Delany singing song about IRA member, and hunger-striker - I'd say it is their business.

Nah, complete nonsense. Not to mention the usual double standards.

[GypsyBlackCat]

Again, if Delaney wasn't Chief Executive of the FAI this wouldn't be an issue but he is. He is not a fan. He has duties and responsibilities as a diplomatic representative of our country. It's embarrassing enough seeing a Chief Executive getting publically drunk and making a fool of himself in foreign countries. This just takes it to another level.

Don't mix politics and football. It's a thin line, as Simunic and others have figured out. Somehow I don't think Delaney will get the same punishment though.

Interesting how Stokes actions & sympathies make him an IRA sympathiser in on one argument yet in another Delaney is just a harmless enthusiast of Irish rebel songs. Strange that..

Edit: WTF is he actually thinking like. There are already mild security issues to worry about when we host England. It's extremely foolish behavior when you actually think about it.

As for the YBIG crowd. Not the first time borderline litigious comments have been made. Only difference is now they are under a microscope.

I agree that the song is offensive and inappropriate for for a man in Delaney's position to sing in public. IMO, I think those songs are terrible and praise terrorism. Now I know that one mans...blah, blah, blah. But here's my issue. The song will cause offensive much like Dave Whelan's comments about the Jews and Mario Balotelli's tweet last night did. The English FA will open an investigation into the comments and decide if both men will be charged and both men will have a chance to appeal. Fair enough.

Now lets look at how the FAI handle things.

Delaney and the FAI must have felt that the song was inappropriate and/or offensive. So why not ask Balls.ie for a copy of the video and open an investigation? Why wasn't Delaney called in front of the BoM and ask to explain himself. The BoM should then decide if any action should be taken. If so, they should have reminded Delaney of his role of CEO and his responablities, gave him a verbal warning and warn him that his conduct (not just this but all those You Tube clips) is/was unacceptable and fine him. Delaney should then have made a real apology and said his action were unacceptable.

Instead we get this mess!

[Stuttgart88]

The fact that Bonnie and osarusan can't agree as to whether the song was offensive proves that at the very least the song had the capacity to offend, especially when some football fans on this island and in neighbouring countries (both of whom we host next year) are divided largely on the grounds of what was morally right or not during The Troubles.

I think even a dyed in the wool RA head can see how dumb it was for a man in his position to sing such a song in such a place, and at such a time. That remains an issue, but now, for me, a bigger issue has become how it has been dealt with by the man himself and the FAI BoM. And beyond that it copperfastens the belief that it is an autocratic, unaccountable and badly run organisation which is failing in many of its core responsibilities.

[BonnieShels]

Just to be clear I'm very aware of its capacity to offend. However any offence caused to some OWC nutcase is irrelevant to me and I wish we would move on to the real issue.
It's not a case of Osa not agreeing with me it is simply a case of him resorting to the ideal that All people should have a voice and we should be sensitive to their issues regardless of whether they have asked to be represented or whether they need to be represented.
He has ably, argued in the past about the FAI and the eligibility issue usually on the other side. I don't agree with him then and I don't know how it is of any concern of the general unionist or IFA supporting populace of the gob in charge of the FAI.

Concentrating on the song is distracting from the ham-fisted clusterfuc.k that was the succeeding few days after the video surfaced. These are much more important and we as stakeholders in this should be more concerned about it not that he sang Joe.

[Stuttgart88]

Just for the sake of stretching this argument, a "stakeholder" is usually defined as someone who can affect or is affected in some way by an organisation's activities. The FAI selects players brought up in the footballing jurisdiction of the IFA. So the IFA is a stakeholder in the FAI, as are its fans. The IFA may not be a stakeholder that the FAI should prioritise as there are definitely stakeholders further up the queue, but they are a stakeholder nonetheless, in my opinion. That gives them the right to get offended and to voice displeasure.

[BonnieShels]

Whilst you are correct in stating that, I think that we could infinitesimally calculate all the stakeholders down the food-chain here for as long as you want. But in this instance I am firmly of the stance, and I think that that is quite clear from my statements that the priority here is action on JD.

Offence is not a core issue in my mind right now. Sure, take care of it, but for the here-and-now we need to criticise and demand answers to the major issues of the bizarre timeline and the statements that were subsequently issued. Once they have been dealt with satisfactorily we should move on to offence etc.

[Gather round]

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz196/BillMcComish/ultonia/delaney_zps66840250.jpg (http://s827.photobucket.com/user/BillMcComish/media/ultonia/delaney_zps66840250.jpg.html)

[Mr A]

There are plenty on this side of the border that would find IRA songs distasteful, it's not just unionists/OWC people. On the other hand I agree the song itself isn't the main issue.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Just leave it Osarusan. Pointless exercise.

[ArdeeBhoy]

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz196/BillMcComish/ultonia/delaney_zps66840250.jpg (http://s827.photobucket.com/user/BillMcComish/media/ultonia/delaney_zps66840250.jpg.html)
You could at least credit the source you stole this from...

And draw attention once again to Post#344 in this thread!!!

[Crosby87]

Who is this Ira fellow? A Jewish chap?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aren't they an investment vehicle in the US?

[DannyInvincible]

Don't mix politics and football.

Although those politics (such as the broad intent behind the above little cliché) that are in line with the politics of the governing bodies are all good, right?... Communities will always use their sports clubs as vehicles for their communal and democratic expressions. I don't think it's an inherently bad thing. Generally-speaking, I'd rather they still had a voice than they were suppressed. A sanitised football without such humanity is a rather bleak proposition. Reactionary and subservient soundbites such as the above do little more than protect the interests of a footballing establishment happy to bleed the game dry of its heart and soul and sell it to the highest bidder.


The FAI selects players brought up in the footballing jurisdiction of the IFA. So the IFA is a stakeholder in the FAI, as are its fans. The IFA may not be a stakeholder that the FAI should prioritise as there are definitely stakeholders further up the queue, but they are a stakeholder nonetheless, in my opinion. That gives them the right to get offended and to voice displeasure.

Only if the IFA and their fans think they have some sort of possessive right over those players, surely? The IFA have no moral justification to be rowing with the FAI on the eligibility of Irish nationals to play for their country. FIFA and CAS both agreed the IFA had no legal case.


Just leave it Osarusan. Pointless exercise.

That's rich! :bulgy:

[Charlie Darwin]

Great Gift Grub today, Delaney advertising the special FAI "no cam" smartphone: http://www.todayfm.com/player/podcasts/The_Ian_Dempsey_Breakfast_Show/The_Ian_Dempsey_Breakfast_Show/24599/2/Gift_Xmas_Ads

[osarusan]

Just to be clear I'm very aware of its capacity to offend.

so why do you dismiss those who might be offended as bleaters, moaners, knuckle draggers, OWC clowns, etc?


However any offence caused to some OWC nutcase is irrelevant to me and I wish we would move on to the real issue.
And what about offence caused to people who are not OWC nutcases? If you recognise the song's capacity to offend, is the offence caused to them relevant to you?



Concentrating on the song is distracting from the ham-fisted clusterfuc.k that was the succeeding few days after the video surfaced. These are much more important and we as stakeholders in this should be more concerned about it not that he sang Joe.

Again, different people will think different aspects of all this are more or less important.

As somebody who doesn't find the song offensive,and as a ROI fan and stakeholder, you are more concerned about the hopelessly inept series of responses by the FAI. That doesn't mean that every ROI fan and stakeholder shares your view on what's the real issue here, and you don't get to dictate to people what they should be caring about and discussing.

Furthermore, there are other people out there who are not ROI fans or stakeholders, and why should they care about the FAI response (edit: in terms of how it demonstrates their uselessness and cronyism)? For them that's not the real issue at all, and it doesn't make sense for you to insist that there is one 'real' issue more concerning than others, and that everybody should 'move on.'

[ArdeeBhoy]

With respect that last paragraph's hardly going to apply to anyone on this MB.
And seems spurious rationale that if anyone else is going to be offended, then the reverse applies and surely they would care about the FAI response...

[GypsyBlackCat]

In fairness, I think the IFA and Northern Ireland fans have a right to be annoyed and offended. The FAI and Delaney knew it would cause offence and that it was bad press. That's why they acted that way. If they had of went about it the right way then this would have died down by now. But by covering it up and saying the matter is closed they have inadvertently said that the singing of Republican songs by its members is ok and that they aren't taken a serious hardline against bigorty and sectarianism.

We can debate until the cows come home about the song but that's not the issue. The FAI and Delaney have made this issue 100 times worse.

[Stuttgart88]

Here's Dion Fanning's take on things. Good article but I'd have preferred if he had made explicit what he implied, I.e., we need a whole new FAI

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/the-song-remains-the-same-for-fai-chief-delaney-30785094.html



I loved the bit: when the FAI find themselves in a hole they apply for drilling rights.

And his quote from Declan Lynch: the FAI are the dysfunctional sporting body other dysfunctional sporting bodies call the galacticos.

[Stuttgart88]

It's very hard not to think about the workings of the FAI when reading Fintan O'Toole this morning

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-responds-to-pat-rabbitte-and-jan-o-sullivan-s-criticism-1.2021828

[DannyInvincible]

In fairness, I think the IFA and Northern Ireland fans have a right to be annoyed and offended. The FAI and Delaney knew it would cause offence and that it was bad press. That's why they acted that way. If they had of went about it the right way then this would have died down by now. But by covering it up and saying the matter is closed they have inadvertently said that the singing of Republican songs by its members is ok and that they aren't taken a serious hardline against bigorty and sectarianism.

We can debate until the cows come home about the song but that's not the issue. The FAI and Delaney have made this issue 100 times worse.

I think it would be going too far to say we can take from this that there is a tolerance of bigotry and sectarianism at the FAI. There's a difference between doing something that is ill-advised with the potential to brew a controversy and doing something that is bigoted and sectarian. John Delaney did the former and he and the association have demonstrated a terrible lack of judgment and awareness throughout; the singing of a rebel ballad isn't inherently the latter. Delaney and the FAI are fair game for criticism - they're guilty of bad judgment and a shameful cover-up - but there's no need to blow things out of proportion by suggesting they have time for bigotry and sectarianism. They dig the holes themselves without us having to tag on extra unfounded accusations.

[DannyInvincible]

'Joe McDonnell' set for Christmas number one?: http://balls.ie/football/irish-balladeers-want-buy-john-delaney-pint-good-reason/


Brian Warfield, Wolfe Tones’ singer and the author of Joe McDonnell, the song which John Delaney made his own in a south Dublin pub last month, says he owes the FAI chief a pint.

Delaney, whose own pint-buying exploits in the service of Irish away fans is the subject of much legend, blasted out a heartfelt but rather croaky rendition of ‘Joe McDonnell’ after Ireland’s 4-1 over the USA in November. The footage was caught on camera phone.

The ballad has been propelled to 7th in the download charts. It now looks distinctly possible that the song will become Christmas no.1 (d’you remember that race?)

Warfield wrote in the Irish Sun:


I definitely owe John Delaney a pint or two. It’s amazing and a wonderful reaction from the public. I think most people think John had a right to sing any song he wants.

The FAI later told a number of media outlets, including this one, that the man in question was not John Delaney.

John Delaney later admitted it was him and proceeded to construct the magnificently confusing sentence in the history of the English language when explaining why the Guardian was informed otherwise on the Monday after. No explanation has been offered as to why we were told it wasn’t him two day prior to this.

Many agreed with Warfield’s contention that Delaney should be free to sing what he wishes and that singing the song does not mean one marks oneself as a supporter of the Provisional IRA. After all, if someone sings ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ it does not automatically mean they are asking a direct question to those around them.

However, others, including Irish Times journalist Emmet Malone, insisted that it was unprofessional and inappropriate for someone in Delaney’s position to be singing a potentially contentious song. They pointed to the sacking, in similar circumstances back in 1999, of Donald Findlay QC, the vice-chairman of Rangers, after he was caught on tape singing what was described as ‘an anti-Celtic song.’

Here’s Brian Warfield’s appeal to people to make the single Christmas no.1:


http://vimeo.com/114185577

Warfield is suggesting the voice of the Wolfe Tones is being suppressed by an RTÉ/Irish media establishment campaign. Is this the case? Haven't the Wolfe Tones been regular guests on the Late Late Show in recent years and as lately as in March of this year?

I think Warfield misses the point. Nobody was trying to deprive Delaney of his civic right to sing rebel songs. People were suggesting that his public behaviour was inappropriate and unprofessional for a man in his position.

[Charlie Darwin]

So we can add the Sun to the list of newspapers the FAI told it wasn't Delaney in the video?

[DannyInvincible]

Sorry, Balls.ie were referring to themselves when they said "including this one".

That text in the original was linked to a previous Balls story: http://balls.ie/football/162201-john-delaney-video-wasnt-him/

I didn't include the link in my quote.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah, I get ya.

[DannyInvincible]

Although that obviously doesn't mean we should simply dismiss the entirely-conceivable possibility that the FAI also informed the Sun that the man in the video was not John Delaney! :p

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah, I'd say probably not. The Sun aren't in the good books ever since they ran Delaney getting the €5m for shutting up about Henry. If they'd asked they probably wouldn't have got an answer.

[Gather round]

.....

[Gather round]

Some say the Divil is dead, the Divil is dead, the Divil is dead
Some say the Divil is dead, and buried in Killiney
More say he rose again, more say he rose again
More say he rose again, his name was John Delaney

Re-release it as a single, Brian ;)


So we can add the Sun to the list of newspapers the FAI told it wasn't Delaney in the video?

This could run and run...

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz196/BillMcComish/ultonia/CURRANT-BUN_zpsa8cfb50e.jpg (http://s827.photobucket.com/user/BillMcComish/media/ultonia/CURRANT-BUN_zpsa8cfb50e.jpg.html)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Except heard you sing that song after drink been taken and that you were putting out that unfunny cartoon a mere 5 years ago...

That said Delaney is now on a par with the other two clowns. If not surpassed?

[paul_oshea]

Anyone read the article yesterday about Delaney and Nadia Forde? It kinda goes to show the way he uses the FAI as his plaything. He was obviously trying to get the leg over, gave her all these opportunities and then finds a new one who puts the foot down and Nadia is cast aside, and so is anything in relation to her (match day/promo )role in the FAI or pre-match formalities.

[Eminence Grise]

Was going to read it, but read your summary and changed my mind - for saving several million brain cells an agonising death, many thanks.;)

At this stage, I think the only thing many football fans want JD to get his leg over is a land mine.

[paul_oshea]

Ya I know, I knew there was some ridicule coming my way for reading it :)

[Eminence Grise]

No, no, not at all. You've done a fine public service there, Paul! At the very least, I hope it was an illustrated article to make the tedium more bearable.

[CraftyToePoke]

Delaney wants Blatter out and the FAI wont be voting for him, if these elections go ahead. He backs Platini publicly as a man he can do business with in this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32891267

[geysir]

Delaney wants Blatter out and the FAI wont be voting for him, if these elections go ahead. He backs Platini publicly as a man he can do business with in this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32891267
He makes Albert Reynolds sound like Einstein.
Delaney claims credit for singlehandedly getting uefa to shift from 16 to 24.
He implies credit for spreading the finals around 13 countries.
He loves uefa for just doing it, based on what his mouth utters at random moments.
Platini is not just a friend but a good friend.
And nasty Blatter doesn't listen like Platini, he wouldn't agree to increase the wc finalists from 32 to 33.

[Charlie Darwin]

Delaney claimed credit for the 16->24 a few months back too, didn't he? To be fair, this is the guy who requested we be the 33rd team at the World Cup so it sounds like the sort of thing he'd ask.

[gastric]

Delaney claimed credit for the 16->24 a few months back too, didn't he? To be fair, this is the guy who requested we be the 33rd team at the World Cup so it sounds like the sort of thing he'd ask.

Ah jasus lads, aren't we so lucky to have him!

[GypsyBlackCat]

When I heard Delaney's comments on Blatter the first thing to come to mind was 'He without sin caste the first stone'. So drop the big of rocks John!!!

[Stuttgart88]

Delaneys description of FIFA and yesterday's events could just as easily be pointed to the FAI.

No transparency over finances.
CEO untouchable.
Retirement age for incumbent Blazers increased as they get older.
Dissenters barred from AGM
Complete lack of accountability mechanisms

It's hard to tell though whether FIFA is rotten from the top down, or bottom up. Probably both. It is, after all, a federation of national associations, with many of the national associations themselves corrupt and/or dysfunctional and in some cases a member of a corrupt/dysfunctional continental federation. It's a patronage organisation where the donors and the recipients are all on the take or acting in self-interest. Sound familiar in an Irish context?

However, it works. Football is more popular and more commercially successful than ever. As the FT said last year, imagine how good world football could be if FIFA was actually functional!

[DannyInvincible]

Interesting comments from Delaney today with regard to claims that arose last year that FIFA paid the FAI €5 million to be quiet about Henry's handball: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0529/704604-delaney-not-drawn-on-fifa-payment-to-fai/


FAI chief executive John Delaney said “an arrangement” with FIFA will remain “confidential for the moment” when asked about a reported €5million payment following the incident which led to the Republic of Ireland missing out on the 2010 World Cup.

France defeated Ireland in a play-off match which saw Thierry Henry clearly foul through a hand ball in the build-up to the winning goal.

The FAI requested that Ireland be permitted to the competition as a 33rd team following the error by the referee.

Delaney told RTÉ this morning: “There was a legal case we had against FIFA at the time. There was an arrangement that was come to but it certainly wasn’t bestowing patronage to us.”

Asked about what the arrangement was, Delaney said: “That is confidential for the moment but what I will say is that at no stage have we ever voted in favour of Blatter.

“We have been consistent in that all through and I have as well. That is the bottom end of it. Today, like I said earlier, we will be voting against Blatter because he is not the man to lead FIFA going forward.”

On what basis would we have had a legal case? That wasn't public knowledge until now, was it?

[OwlsFan]

Fair dues to him if he did manage to secure some money for the FAI to go away but as you say, I don't see that FIFA had a legal case to answer, otherwise every team hard done by a refereeing decision would be banging at FIFA's door. Are the FAI's accounts published each year ? It would appear from Stuttgart88's comments that they are not.