Politics

John Delaney will not be questioned by committee

Proposal to question FAI chief executive over €5m ‘Henry handball’ payment voted down

John Delaney contacted TDs on the committee before the decision was made not to question him over the payment. Photograph: Inpho
John Delaney contacted TDs on the committee before the decision was made not to question him over the payment. Photograph: Inpho
Sarah Bardon
Wed Jun 10 2015 - 13:00

John Delaney will not be invited to speak before a Dáil committee over the €5 million payment made to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in the aftermath of the Thierry Henry handball incident in 2009.

The Oireachtas sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport voted overwhelmingly not to bring the FAI chief executive in to answer questions on the payment received from Fifa.

TDs were told it was beyond their remit to investigate the payment.

Mr Delaney had contacted TDs on the committee in advance of a decision on Wednesday.

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Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis said Mr Delaney had called him and claimed he had disclosed as much as he could regarding the payment.

The €5 million payment was made after the World Cup qualifying play-off match between the Republic of Ireland and France in 2009 in which France's Thierry Henry handled the ball, leading to a decisive goal.

Mr Delaney initially said the payment was related to the handball, then later said that the incident acted only as a “catalyst”, and that the money paid was agreed on the basis of Fifa’s “real concerns” over the strength of the FAI’s legal claim over the incident.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny previously said the payment was “quite extraordinary” and Mr Delaney should answer all questions regarding the transaction.

The FAI accounts for the years 2010 to 2013 do not specifically refer to any payment or loan from Fifa. The 2014 accounts have not yet been filed.