Oireachtas committee votes not to question Delaney

TDs have backed down from questioning FAI chief executive John Delaney about the €5m Fifa payment after being told that they would be overstepping their remit and could face legal action.

Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport have confirmed they spoke by phone with Mr Delaney before yesterday’s meeting, where a motion to ask him to appear before them was defeated. The reprieve for Mr Delaney, who told the committee in writing the €5m was fully accounted for under Irish tax law, comes ahead of Saturday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.

Committee sources last night confirmed that members, during their private meeting, said they had spoken to Mr Delaney in recent days prior to the vote on bringing him in.