MODEL Nadia Forde was paid to dance with ex-FAI chief John Delaney in a charity Strictly Come Dancing event, the Irish Sun has learned.

The I'm A Celeb star was flown over from LA and had her expenses covered for the high profile event in aid of the Homeless World Cup.

3 John Delaney and Nadia Forde at the Strictly Come Dancing charity event

Finances at the FAI have come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks after it emerged Delaney tried to injunct The Sunday Times over a controversial €100,000 "bridging loan".

The former CEO — who stepped aside at the weekend amid the controversy — is set to face a grilling by an Oireachtas Committee next month over the Association's cash flow issues following a series of Irish Sun revelations.

We have now learned that in 2013, top model Nadia was flown in from her LA base to take part in the dancing fundraiser and partnered with Delaney.

The Strictly Soccer Charity Fundraiser was held in Citywest in aid of John Giles' Foundation and Ireland's Street Leagues, which raises money for teams to compete in the Homeless World Cup.

It is unclear at this point whether the FAI or the charitable causes ultimately picked up the tab — we have asked the FAI for comment.

'RAISED EYEBROWS'

A spokesperson for Nadia last night told the Irish Sun: "I can confirm Nadia was asked to attend this event and that it was a paid work event."

The star-studded event featured a large number of Irish internationals, top models, socialites and stylists, none of whom asked by us received a fee.

Dancing With The Stars regular Brian Redmond — who received no fee — was among the judges on the night, alongside Giles, socialite Lisa Murphy and journalist Barry Egan.

But we can also reveal Forde — who went on to become close friends with Delaney, 51, and performed the national anthem at the Aviva — was paid to take part after a personal request from the then-FAI supremo.

An FAI source said: "The event was held in aid of the John Giles' Foundation and Ireland's Street Leagues, who would have both split the monies raised.

"There was a high profile press launch for the night, it was on a bigger scale than events they'd usually host. The organisers were asked to book Nadia Forde for the night.

"Her flights and expenses were covered. It was made clear that she was abroad and would have to be flown in especially for the night. It certainly raised a few eyebrows. The event did OK."

Another source claimed: "Her flights and expenses came out of the budget for the night."

Delaney later boasted that the event "worked out great" in terms of finances and bragged: "I chose the song for Nadia — she's Dublin's uptown girl.

"I did my best. I like to dance a little bit but I have never been trained.

"Brian (Redmond) was absolutely fantastic. He taught simple steps and it worked. It worked out great. And we got 14 grand. That's the important thing."

A major auction was also held on the night with prizes including Nicky Byrne's Strictly Come Dancing shoes, Kenny Egan's boxing gloves and a dinner with then-Ireland football manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

'FIRM FRIENDS'

Forde and Delaney became firm friends after this meeting in May 2013, with the model going on to sing the national anthem before a September World Cup qualifier later that year.

There was much speculation about the nature of their relationship but Delaney told the Irish Sun in 2014 that they were just "very firm friends".

He insisted: "If you read what's written at times, you'd wonder what's going on between me and Nadia. But listen, we're very firm friends.

"I think I'm more like a father figure. I'm 46 years of age, she is in her early 20s, to be fair.

"She is somebody I have a lot of respect for. She's got a great career as a model. It looks like she is heading for a good career in terms of her singing. I wish her well in that, for sure.

"We're great friends, and we get on really, really well but we were never together — absolutely not."

Delaney found love the following year with former model and PR worker Emma English, who was listed as one of the organisers of the 2013 dance event.

Nadia, 29, who welcomed baby girl Wyatt with fiance Dominic Day last October, later spoke of losing contact with Delaney after his new relationship began.

In an interview she said: "Honestly? I don't understand it. I haven't spoken to him since he started dating his girlfriend.

"He got with her and that was that. I thought we were friends. So it's a bit strange, if not hurtful.

"But I'm always at the end of the phone if he wants to chat, like I always was before. It's hard to understand."

OTHER GUESTS

A spokeswoman for Valerie Roe PR — which publicised the event — said: "We don't get involved in third party payments, it's far too messy."

Talent show star Redmond also confirmed he was asked to take part, explaining: "A lady I know helps a homeless soccer charity and she asked me, but I wasn't paid to judge on the night."

Solicitor Gerald Kean also danced for free. He told the Irish Sun: "I never charge a fee for charity events. Maybe that's why I'm so popular — I’m f****** cheap!"

The Irish Sun contacted the FAI with a detailed list of questions. Street Leagues Ireland declined to comment when contacted last night.

The Irish Sun revealed in January that, between 2015 and 2018, Delaney sought early access to millions of euro of State funding that hadn't been approved yet.

And on January 25 of this year, the FAI requested an early drawdown of 25 per cent of its 2019 funding from Sport Ireland.

The €100,000 "bridging loan", coupled with the information received by the Irish Sun on early drawdowns, means serious questions will be asked of Delaney at an Oireachtas Committee next month.

We revealed yesterday how Delaney wants to stay on in his new €120,000 Executive Vice President role until Euro 2020, after which he will step down.

3 Nadia Forde pictured with John Delaney's girlfriend Emma English Credit: VIP Ireland