- Title: IRELAND/FRANCE: SOCCER - Ireland call on FIFA to replay France playoff
- Date: 20th November 2009
- Summary: ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (RECENT) (REUTERS) FIFA SIGN
- Embargoed: 5th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABX7V1P4LQS7OS2NSW083OE05G
- Story Text: Ireland ask FIFA to replay the World Cup playoff with France.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) called on FIFA on Thursday (November 19) to order a replay of the controversial World Cup playoff against France.
France booked their place in next year's finals in South Africa with a 1-1 second-leg draw in Paris on Wednesday after striker Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build-up to their goal.
"The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport and we now call on FIFA, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this match to be replayed," read an FAI statement.
The FAI issued the statement as Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was telling a news conference it would be impossible to replay the match.
FAI chief executive John Delaney told a separate news conference that he had also written to the French FA on the matter and was not calling for a replay simply out of principle.
"This was a defining game that the whole world were watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity and all the things we're told when we go to congresses and all the different literature we get, this is their opportunity to step forward. And from the French FA's point of view, they need to look at themselves and look at this situation. Thierry Henry's their captain, he's a wonderful footballer but does he want to be remembered like Maradona was in 1986, does he want his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in a very unjust manner," he said.
The call for a replay was backed by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, who said his government would support the FAI.
"Fair play is a fundamental part of the game and I think that the official complaint they've lodged will be supported by us. The minister of sports will write to FIFA in support of that complaint and ask for a re-match," he said.
Henry was compared to Diego Maradona, although not the way he may have wished, after his handball was likened to the Argentine's infamous hand-made goal in a 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England.
Henry admitted he had handled the ball in the build-up to the goal, but suggested it was accidental.
"Yes it was a hand ball. Like I was telling your Irish colleagues I know it is difficult to accept. If you watch the video of the action. It is my team mate "Toto" who was fighting for the ball with two Irish who passed me the ball, then the ball rebounded on my hand and of course I passed the ball to the centre. Like I was telling your Irish colleagues I am not the referee," he said after the match.
While Ireland were understandably devastated, France were far from praised in the local media.
"The hand of God," screamed a headline on the front page of French sports daily L'Equipe after France went through on a 2-1 aggregate playoff win.
French President Sarkozy went to congratulate French coach Raymond Domenech shortly after the victory and praised Ireland's efforts.
"This was painful but we have what is essential: the French football team have qualified, they fought bravely. My thoughts go the Irish team who showed a very good performance. I think the two teams were very close, the Irish team was very good in the first half, but the French fought with determination. We're there and we are happy to be there," Sarkozy said.
Domenech, under fire since he was left in charge after France's Euro 2008 flop, said he did not see the incident which led to the goal.
"I didn't see the replay, I didn't see anything, I know that the referee gave a goal, but what happened? I don't know," he told reporters after the match.
Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni said at a news conference that it would be impossible to replay the match, blaming a "great mistake" by Swedish referee Martin Hansson for Ireland's elimination.
"Sure, it wasn't up to Henry to say 'look I touched it with my hand," he said.
The 70 year-old Italian renewed calls for video evidence to be introduced in soccer as it already used in many other sports.
"Video in the future sure should be necessary because our federation loses money and loses and we have to keep up our credibility and integrity."
The controversy landed at the Irish Parliament where members were calling FIFA to introduce video replays to clarify incidents which escape the referee's eyes.
The FAI said there was a precedent for a replay to be staged, citing a decision to invalidate the result of a World Cup qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain in 2005 on the basis of a "technical error by the referee". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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