A payment to the FAI was a loan for a stadium following Thierry Henry's controversial handball, FIFA has insisted.
FIFA has claimed that a payment of 5 million euros made to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) following its controversial loss in the 2010 World Cup playoffs was a loan for the construction of a stadium.
FAI chief executive John Delaney revealed earlier on Thursday that world football's governing body had paid compensation to prevent legal action after a handball from Thierry Henry prevented Ireland from qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa.
France forward Henry clearly handled the ball twice in the build-up to William Gallas' extra-time equalizer in the second leg of the qualifying playoff with Ireland in November 2009.