The Football Association of Ireland released a statement last night backing Chief Executive John Delaney after a recent controversy.

Delaney has been criticised after footage emerged showing the FAI chief singing a Republican ballad in a pub.

But in an FAI statement by the association president Tony Fitzgerald, which also referenced the cyber-bullying highlighted by Delaney's partner Emma English, the Waterford man was backed.

"Following recent coverage of the cyber bullying of his partner Emma and the fact that John has publicly apologised if he offended anyone for singing the nationalist song in question, we are happy to bring the matter to a close.

"The Board is more than pleased with the way John Delaney is running the Association. He has done an enormous amount for Irish football. In the past year alone the winning of Euro 2020 bid for Dublin adds to a number of very important developments he has helped oversee during his tenure. We recently awarded him a contract extension to 2020 and he is fully deserving of that."

Originally published 22.30 26/11/2014