Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney has revealed that FIFA paid them millions of pounds to keep quiet about their World Cup play-off loss to France in 2009.

The Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by France to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with Thierry Henry's handball in the lead-up to William Gallas' extra-time winner creating headlines around the world.

The FAI wanted to take the matter further but Delaney has disclosed that FIFA paid them to avoid launching a legal case. It is believed the fee was around €5million.

"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 (Thierry) Henry handball," Delaney said on RTE Radio 1.

"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. I'm bound by confidentiality from 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."