John Delaney's interview with Ray D'Arcy on RTE today was a fairly wide-ranging affair.
In addition to his detailing of the rather creepy encounter between Sepp and his girlfriend Emma, Delaney dwelt on the less important matter of that €5 million FIFA were supposed to have handed the FAI in 2009.
Surprising no one, Delaney admitted that the payment was offered by FIFA as a means of warding off any potential legal action from the FAI following the Henry handball.
Delaney and the association decided to accept. On The Ray D'Arcy Show, he defended the decision.
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. I’m bound by confidentiality for naming the figure.
You’ve put a figure out there and fair play to you. It was a payment to the association to not proceed with a legal case. In there they signed a confidentiality agreement where I can’t talk about the amount involved.
You used a figure there, well done to you, but it was a very good and legitimate deal for the FAI.
Many have noted that this stance contrasts with the spirited and bullish front he put out there in that fateful month of November 2009.
“It’s not about money. This is about sporting integrity.” John Delaney, day after Henry handball - Nov 2009.
— YBIG (@YouBoysInGreen) June 4, 2015
A tenacious minority have defended him for acting in the interest of the association in ultimately accepting the money.
Listen to the interview here.
