John Delaney has confirmed that FIFA awarded a financial settlement to the FAI after the Republic of Ireland's controversial World Cup playoff exit to France in 2009.
Ireland's hopes of reaching the 2010 edition of the competition were dashed when Thierry Henry's infamous handball led to William Gallas's extra-time winner in Paris.
It was previously reported that football's governing body had paid to avoid legal action, with €5 million reportedly the figure in question, but FAI chief Delaney stopped short of revealing the amount.
"We felt we had a legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup playoff hadn't worked out for us with the Henry handball," Delaney told RTE Radio. "Also the way Blatter behaved, if you remember on stage, 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. 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."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigned from his position earlier this week.
Shane Callaghan
