FIFA Reportedly Paid Irish FA After Thierry Henry Handball

The FIFA controversy that has dominated headlines in the past week took another shocking turn on Thursday, as John Delaney, the chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, revealed the organisation paid the FAI in the wake of Thierry Henry's controversial handball during a World Cup qualifier against France.

The FAI released a statement confirming the payment.

This became one of the most infamous moments in Irish sporting history, as Henry handled the ball before providing the assist to the goal that would ultimately see France qualify for the 2010 World Cup over Ireland. Here's a video of the incident:

Neil O'Riordan of the Irish Sun provided a statement from FIFA:

At the time of the incident, the Irish were furious, and many expected the FAI to press charges against FIFA. Speaking to RTE Sport, Delaney confirmed that was the plan, until FIFA made him an offer he simply couldn't refuse:

"

We felt we had a legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup play-off hadn’t worked out for us with the Henry handball.

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 from naming the figure.

"

Delaney was questioned as to the amount, which was reported to be €5 million, but refused to comment on the details, according to Smith. 

The report is but the latest in a long line of controversies surrounding FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who announced earlier this week that he will be stepping down from his position just days after winning the presidential elections. Those elections took place in the midst of a massive FBI investigation, per ESPN FC:

The list of controversies that have shaped FIFA's current predicament is too long to explain in full, but as reported by the Wall Street Journal, it's significant enough to put severe pressure on the organisation, especially combined with Blatter's current status:

Despite all of the controversy and the arrests of several high-ranking FIFA officers, Blatter himself is yet to be charged by any of the agencies investigating his organisation. 

Paying off a football association so they wouldn't voice their completely justified anger over the chance of losing out on playing in the World Cup is hardly the kind of business model fans would like an organisation like FIFA to uphold, but with everything we've just witnessed, it shoudn't really come as a surprise.