Updated 18.45
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has today called for further information after FIFA confirmed it paid the Football Association of Ireland €5million to drop a legal case.
“This is quite extraordinary,” Kenny told reporters. He added that the FAI needed to provide more information in the “interests of transparency and accountability”.
When questioned on the issue by reporters, Kenny said further information was needed from Delaney.
“Football is such an important issue that John Delaney should answer and will answer all those questions, I’m quite sure,” he said.
“His position is tenable and I’m quite sure he’ll be able to answer any questions that are raised about the matter.”
Tanáiste Joan Burton said it was an “intriguing story”, adding: “Particularly the meeting where you walk in, have a few hot words, and leave with five million in your pocket.”
Earlier, Jim Boyce, who recently stepped down as a Fifa vice president, says he is astounded by the news from Dublin.
“I have never heard anything as ridiculous in my life,” the Northern Ireland native told reporters. “If a payment of $5m has been paid because of a handball and threatened legal action then I hope a full investigation will be carried out into this and any other such arbitrary payments.”
John Delaney yesterday confirmed that the payment was made. Fifa later issued a statement to say that the money was a loan for a stadium that was to be paid off if Ireland qualified for the 2014 World Cup. When that failed to happen, the loan was written off, they say.
additional reporting Adrian Russell
