By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – In what is becoming open season time for FIFA’s secrets to see the light of day, a new saga connected with federation money and sharp negotiation has suddenly hit the headlines, this time concerning one the World Cup’s most notorious injustices.
The Football Association of Ireland, seemingly using the crisis engulfing FIFA to make its move, says it was paid off by FIFA to avoid a legal case following the infamous Thierry Henry handball controversy during the 2009 World Cup qualifying play-off with France.
Ireland were knocked out by the French in the two-legged playoff to qualify for the 2010 South Africa tournament, sparking outrage across the country and beyond. They were 16 minutes away from a penalty shootout before Henry handled in the build-up to William Gallas’s extra-time equaliser in the second leg of the play-off in Paris.
But now, it seems, FIFA struck a deal with the Irish not to go to court by receiving a €5 million loan granted for “the construction of a stadium in Ireland”.
FIFA admitted on Thursday it gave the FAI a loan that would have been paid back had Ireland qualified for the 2014 World Cup. “In January 2010 FIFA entered into an agreement with FAI in order to put an end to any claims against FIFA,” it said in a statement
“FIFA granted FAI a loan 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.”
FAI chief executive John Delaney told Irish state broadcaster RTE on Thursday that the money “was a payment to the association… not to proceed with a legal case.”
“We felt we had a legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup hadn’t worked out because of the Thierry Henry handball,” he said.
After the handball incident Ireland appealed to be added as “33rd team” at the finals – an idea that was rejected by Sepp Blatter.
“Remember the way Blatter behaved, 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.”
Three days later, says Delaney, an agreement was “done and signed.”
“I’m bound by confidentiality from naming the figure” though reports across Ireland and the UK have placed it at €5 million.
In a statement, the FAI said: “This is fully reflected in our financial statements, which are audited independently. The FAI accepted FIFA’s settlement offer to avoid a long, costly and protracted legal case.”
Delaney’s claims come after the most turbulent nine days in FIFA’s history amid Blatter’s announcement of his intention to stand down and claims of systemic and deep-rooted corruption stretching back 20 years. FIFA is facing two criminal investigations into its members, by the US for widespread bribery allegations and by Swiss authorities over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes.
“The settlement has at no time influenced the FAI’s criticism of FIFA as demonstrated by our consistent criticisms of Sepp Blatter.”
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