FAI release statement confirming “that a legal settlement agreement was reached with FIFA”

Earlier today, the news broke that FIFA had offered the FAI a €5 million settlement, an offer which the FAI accepted, in order to prevent any legal action being taken after the controversial Ireland versus France World Cup qualifier in late 2009. 

It was FAI chief executive John Delaney who broke the news in an interview with RTE Radio when he stated that “we [the FAI and FIFA] came to an agreement" describing it as “a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI” in the form of a payment. The offer was made as the FAI believed that they had a “legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup play-off hadn't worked out for [them] with the Henry handball” and the world football organisation moved to prevent such action. 

Although a spokesperson on behalf of the world football governing body did confirm that a payment was made, they claimed that it was made as a loan agreement for the “construction of a stadium in Ireland.” This loan was agreed to be repaid by the FAI if the Irish national team made the 2010 World Cup however when they failed to do so, the loan was rendered defunct. 

The FAI this evening then released an official press release confirming “that a legal settlement agreement was reached with FIFA” and the reasoning behind the acceptance was to “to avoid a long, costly and protracted legal case.” 

The FAI statement in full reads:

“Further to FIFA's statement this evening in relation to the €5m settlement with the FAI, the Association can now confirm that a legal settlement agreement was reached with FIFA following the threat of a legal case by the Association against world governing body in early 2010. 

The matter has been reported before in the media however the Association has, until now, abided by the confidentiality agreement required by FIFA as part of the settlement.

The settlement was reached following strong legal advice given to the Association regarding the case against FIFA, and was a legitimate payment that enabled the Association to put €5m into the Aviva stadium project. This is fully reflected in our financial statements which are audited independently. The Association accepted FIFA's settlement offer to avoid a long, costly and protracted legal case. The offer given to the Association was fully written off by FIFA in 2014. 

FIFA's settlement with the Association has at no time influenced the FAI's criticism of FIFA as demonstrated by our consistent criticisms of Sepp Blatter. Furthermore the settlement was made without any conditions other than confidentiality.”