Following Pat Smith's statement on Thursday that he wished the IFA to donate his €1m severance payment lump to Self Help Africa and the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the organisation has replied with a strongly worded statement describing the suggestion as "total spin".

The package agreed by former IFA president Eddie Downey includes another €1m to be paid to Smith over 10 years, but the association has described it as "unapproved" and intends to challenge it in court.

Following the IFA executive council meeting that extended from Wednesday into Thursday morning this week, the organisation said: "The IFA Council has rightly disowned this package."

Acting president Tim O'Leary said on Thursday that Smith had been "fired" and had not resigned. "It is Pat Smith who didn’t want to submit to transparency over his salary. That is totally unacceptable," the IFA added in its statement.

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