Ireland Turns Down FIFA's Patronizing Fair Play Award

firsthand

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The real story from the star-studded Gala in Zurich was the FAI's refusal to accept a highly patronizing Fair Play Award.

"I think the way the president of FIFA behaved was an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to FIFA. There is an awards ceremony and they have offered us a Fair Play award. We've respectfully declined." said a dignified John Delaney, President of the FAI.

Ireland was knocked out of the World Cup at the European Playoff stage. They had been controversially beaten by France in Paris, after Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting William Gallas up to score the winner.

The handball was a blatant act of cheating by one of the world's most renowned players. Both the referee and the linesman missed the incident, even though the referee's assistant had a clear view of the incident.

France's progress to South Africa and Henry's act became worldwide news and at one stage it almost looked as if the match was going to be replayed after the huge furor.

From the outset, FIFA refused the FAI's request for a replay so the Irish association turned it's attention towards the only avenue left and appealed to the French Football Federation's sense of honor, inevitably the invitation was met with deaf ears.

With the furor showing no sign of abating as every media outlet in the world had their say, FIFA then fudged the entire incident by refusing the FAI's requests for replays to be used in incidents of high controversy.

FIFA dismissed the request, but then said they would consider using four referees, as used in the Europa Cup. But two days later this was also rejected.

With FIFA refusing to act on the incident in any way, the FAI made a formal request to Sepp Blatter, FIFA's President, for Ireland to be allowed to participate as the 33rd team in the 32 team tournament in South Africa.

The move was never designed to get Ireland into the World Cup, rather, it was designed for the topic to be used as a discussion for the FIFA board in an attempt to raise the issue of cheating and video replay.

However, a few days before the FIFA governing body were due to sit, Blatter ridiculed the FAI in a press conference to promote the new Adidas football that will be used in South Africa.

that blatter has some neck :bang head:
 
thats a first the french never gave up maybe the FAI`S should of said boo, the french would of surrendered the whole country then.(y)
 
They should have arranged a match between us & the World Cup winners.
The FAI would have been guaranteed a full house & pocketed a nice few bob also.

Saying that, I hope Brazil win the world cup now, seeing as we`ll be playing them anyway lol
 
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