Roy Keane refused to discuss the payment from FIFA to the FAI at a press briefing in Malahide today.
Yesterday's revelations made headlines around the world after confirmation of a payment of €5m to the association from the governing body of the game, in the aftermath of the Republic of Ireland's play-off defeat to France in the World Cup play-off .
Keane, whose reputation for plain-speaking goes before him, was unusually reticent on the matter, preferring instead to concentrate on Sunday's friendly against England and preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland on 13 June.
He said: "Not today. I'm not in the mood for all that stuff today. If you want to ask me about the games coming up and the players we have, no problem.
"But I'm not going into the FIFA stuff. I'm here to work with the players and focus on the games coming up. I'm not going there with that one.
Thursday's developments, in which both FAI chief executive John Delaney and FIFA confirmed that a five million Euros payment had been made, dragged Ireland into the thick of a story which continues to make global headlines.
But asked about that aspect, Keane was equally unforthcoming.
"I'm the assistant manager, I'm here to work with the players and help the team get ready for Sunday [friendly v England]," he said.
"We have had a few nice days already. It is crunch time coming up. That's the only focus for me."
Asked whether chief executive John Delaney was a distraction, Keane smiled and quipped "Isn't he always?" before reiterating a desire to return to discussing the upcoming games against England and Scotland.
Roy Keane addresses the media ahead of Ireland's games against England and Scotland. https://t.co/w0jSRvwilK
— RTE News Now (@RTENewsNow) June 5, 2015There was humour too when the name of former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, once described by then Sunderland manager Keane as "a clown", was raised.
"I have had issues with everybody,” Keane said. “Again, if you want to talk about the game, no problem; if you want to talk about all the other stuff, you are talking to the wrong man."
If sports news around the world has been dominated by the FIFA story in recent days, it appears to have barely warranted a mention at the Republic's Portmarnock base or Gannon Park training headquarters.
Asked if the players had been affected by it, Keane said: "No, I don't think so, I wouldn't have thought so. I think they've got other more important things to worry about.
"The players aren't in control of any of that stuff, who's running the game and what's going on, what's supposed to be going on.
"The players have enough on their plates getting focussed. Three games in nine, 10 days just takes care of itself. You are either focussing on the game or you are getting your recovery like today, and before we know it, we are into the England game and with it being an early kick-off on Sunday, you are bang into it, you are not hanging around all day, and then the Scotland game...
"I'd be surprised. I know if I was a player at the moment and all that was going on, it wouldn't concern me too much.
"You have to get your priorities right, and that's getting focussed for a big game of international football where there's a lot at stake for everybody.
"Put it this way: we have not even discussed it. We have had one or two chats with the staff, but when we are chatting with the players, it doesn't come into it."
