FAI chief Executive John Delaney has confirmed that he loaned the association €100,000 of his own money to help it through a “cash-flow” problem.

It comes after The Sunday Times reported that Mr Delaney handed the cheque to his employer in April 2017.

In a statement, the 51-year-old said: “I confirm that I made a once-off bridging loan to the association to aid a very short-term cash flow issue.”

"This is the only occasion on which I provided the association with a short-term loan."

The FAI said the loan was “repaid in full” to Mr Delaney in June 2017.

The association also confirmed that Mr Delaney’s UEFA remuneration for 2018 has been “donated back to the FAI on a voluntary basis.”

Mr Delaney is due to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport next month.

The committee is set to examine governance at the FAI and the development of the League of Ireland and underage game.