Some may say it's typical of Ireland's insular nature but it's always a big day when we make front pages of the world's major media outlets. Most recently, the marriage referendum saw us become centre of attention for all the right reasons, now all eyes are once again on us, but it's not quite so positive this time.
We knew about the €5 million. We've known about the €5 million for a long time. However, given that John Delaney came out last week as the white knight, determined to vote against Sepp Blatter, this payment has become fair game once again and we're guessing the FAI chief may have underestimated what he's let himself in for.
Blatter is big news, any money is being jumped upon and Ireland are the first European nation to get caught up in something that very much appears to be less than above board.
Call it a loan if you want John, but the fact is, we didn't have a legal leg to stand on in 2009. Everyone knows it and whatever spin you want to put on it is laughably transparent. Now it's gone outside Ireland and the scrutiny that this payment always deserved is finally here. Not just is it here, but it's front page news.
The Times
Dubbing the payment, 'hush money', the Times of London are hitting the story hard. A front page splash for a sports story is rare, when it doesn't even include England, it's almost unheard of.
The secret payment — designed to stop Ireland suing over the unfair result — was revealed yesterday as the corruption scandal at football’s governing body grew. One former executive admitted accepting World Cup bribes and another promised to reveal an “avalanche” of secrets that would engulf Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president.
The Daily Star
The story also makes the front page of the Daily Star with the delightfully 90's phrase 'bung' being used as a description for the payment.
The Sun
Just the back page on the Sun, but they have gone for the predictable but nonetheless necessary 'Hand of Wad' headline.
The Express
A 'handout' this time. The thesaurus must have been in overdrive last night.
Daily Mail
The arbitrary payment — around £3.25m — was made after Delaney complained about Blatter making public a confidential meeting with an Irish delegation who were chasing compensation. Blatter ridiculed the Irish for wanting a 33rd wildcard spot in South Africa, after Henry’s deliberate handball set up France’s decisive goal in the play-off second leg in Paris.
'Arbitrary payment', well that's one way to put it.
The Telegraph
In terms of content, the Telegraph have perhaps hit the FAI harder than anyone else. Henry Winter has used his column to turn the attention on Delaney, rather than just having another dig at Blatter.
The FAI should not have bowed so meekly towards Sepp Blatter and Fifa, even if Delaney argued it was “an agreement not to proceed with a legal case”. It was actually an agreement to let down players like Dunne and those supporters standing in disbelief outside Stade de France. It was done quickly, surreptitiously.
Delaney and the FAI should have been above that. They should not have been stooping to Fifa’s debased standards that money is the answer to everything. England’s fans have just acquired some new song-writing material as they head to Dublin this weekend. The FAI was bought off by Blatter.
New York Times
The New York Times, who have been front and centre of the ongoing FIFA scandal, have sparred the FAI from most of the criticism but we'd like to think this is a subtle dig at the Delaney's handling of the payment.
Citing a confidentiality agreement, Mr. Delaney on Thursday refused to confirm the amount of the payment, but he chuckled and complimented the interviewer, Ray D’Arcy, after Mr. D’Arcy suggested a figure of “five million.”
Marca
Perhaps most entertaining of all, the Spanish daily have thrown all pretence out the window and going straight for the 'B' word.
Sorry John, it may have been a simple interview with Ray D'Arcy but it's become so much more than that now. And it doesn't look like slowing down any time soon.
