FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed FIFA paid to prevent the Republic of Ireland suing them over the Thierry Henry handball.
That incident to set up an extra-time equaliser was decisive in a World Cup play-off against France in 2009.
“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,” Delaney told RTÉ Radio 1.
FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed FIFA paid to prevent the Republic of Ireland suing them over the Thierry Henry handball.
That incident to set up an extra-time equaliser was decisive in a World Cup play-off against France in 2009.
“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,” Delaney told RTÉ Radio 1.
The payment is believed to be worth €5m, but Delaney said he signed a confidentiality agreement preventing him from naming the figure.
“Also the way Sepp 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.
“It was a payment to the association to not proceed with a legal case. In there they put in a confidentiality agreement where I can’t talk about the amount involved.”
Then-Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni had also hinted at FIFA recompense for the debacle with France.
“After the France-Ireland World Cup qualifier, I called Michel Platini and told him everything,” Trap said to Italian magazine Oggi.
“Then Blatter organised a friendly for Ireland so the revenue from that would match the sum we would’ve had if qualifying for the World Cup.
“What did I care about the money? I wanted to be in that tournament.”