Quote:
The Football Association of Ireland chief executive, John Delaney, has confirmed that he accepted a payment from Fifa after Thierry Henry’s handball in the 2010 World Cup qualifying play-offs ended their hopes of qualifying for the tournament in South Africa. Delaney said the payment, reported to be €5m, was made so the FAI would not pursue legal action.
Speaking to RTE, Delaney claimed the payment was “a very good and legitimate deal” for the FAI but due to a confidentiality agreement would not confirm the amount received.
“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,” Delaney said. “Also the way [Sepp] 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 and 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, but I’m bound by confidentiality for naming the figure.”
What would the legal argument have been I wonder?