Mooley
TK Veteran
The Republic of Ireland's pleas to have their World Cup clash with France replayed are likely to fall on deaf ears.
The Football Association of Ireland has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA after France's controversial play-off victory in Paris, and that is currently under consideration.
Chief executive John Delaney has called on the governing body to uphold "the integrity of the game" after match referee Martin Hansson failed to spot Thierry Henry's handball as he fed William Gallas to score the decisive extra-time goal at the Stade de France.
However, a FIFA source has told Press Association Sport: "There is no way the game can be replayed.
"To do so would cause absolute chaos for football. If it was replayed, then every match in the future would also be subject to these calls for a replay any time a referee misses an incident.
"FIFA's rules are absolutely clear. Law five states that a referee's decision on points of fact are final. That is the end of it. You cannot replay the match on this basis.
"You have to have a rule that says the referee's judgement is always right."
Delaney's call came after the Republic party returned to Dublin still fuming at the way their World Cup dreams had been ripped apart.
Ireland led 1-0 on the night after 90 minutes courtesy of skipper Robbie Keane's 32nd-minute strike, which cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's winner in Saturday's first leg at Croke Park.
They then passed up several excellent opportunities to win the tie outright, but it eventually went to extra-time and it was then that Irish hopes were dashed.
Delaney said: "We have got to do what we have to do.
"We owe it to the players, who were magnificent. The supporters were incredible.
"It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress, I hear about fair play and integrity.
"This was not a league game. This was a defining game with the whole world watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.
"From the French FA point of view, they need to look at themselves in this situation.
"Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer, but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner?"
Delaney added: "If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn't be happy.
"I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night."
Both Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and assistant coach Liam Brady have called for the match to be replayed, while manager Giovanni Trapattoni question Mr Hansson's appointment for such an important game and suggested future ties should not go to extra time.
He said: "I would give the advice to FIFA - maybe in the future change the rules about the play-off. Play two games and at the end of 90 minutes, no extra time.
"I think there are mistakes in life - I have seen many situations in football. But change the rules.
"All sports lose credibility with this situation - it affects the integrity of the game.
"I will go to FIFA and advise them, 'Go straight to penalties'. It's better for football."
FIFA have ordered a game to be replayed before - Uzbekistan's 2006 World Cup qualifier against Bahrain - but only because the referee had made a "technical error" after a penalty had been awarded.
But the whole affair has left a sour taste as Irish disappointment at FIFA's late decision to seed the play-offs turned to disgust over Henry's contribution to their downfall.
Keane said: "It's an easy decision to do the seedings, isn't it?
"They are all probably clapping hands, [UEFA President Michel] Platini sitting up there on the phone to [FIFA President] Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result.
"France and Germany had a chance of being in the play-offs as well, two massive countries.
"There was no way in a million years it was going to be a fair draw - and it wasn't."
French sports teachers' union SNEP-FSU condemned Henry's handball as "indisputable cheating", and criticised the French Football Federation for not speaking out against it.
The union released a statement which said: "The France team will go to South Africa courtesy of indisputable cheating which highlights the downward spiral affecting football today."
The statement added: "The SNEP is surprised at the silence and absence of immediate condemnation of what happened by the Federation."
The union also said: "SNEP condemns and challenges statements made by coach Raymond Domenech and some of his players saying the main thing in sport is to win.
"All these comments are unfortunately linked to a 'very modern' philosophy stipulating that in all areas, including sports, the end justifies the means."
Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen, meanwhile, said he would raise the controversy with President Nicolas Sarkozy at a European summit.
But French Prime Minister Francois Fillon then urged politicians not to interfere.
"I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game," the Taoiseach
said in Brussels.
It is estimated that World Cup qualification would have been worth 30million euros (£26.7 million) to Irish football.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern led the first demands for the rematch, in the interests of fair play, backed by Brady and followed later by the Taoiseach.
"All we want is fair play," the minister said.
"Fifa are committed to the concept of fair play. Ironically, their Fair Play campaign was conceived as a direct result of the 1986 'Hand of God' goal by (Diego) Maradona.''
Football365
The Football Association of Ireland has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA after France's controversial play-off victory in Paris, and that is currently under consideration.
Chief executive John Delaney has called on the governing body to uphold "the integrity of the game" after match referee Martin Hansson failed to spot Thierry Henry's handball as he fed William Gallas to score the decisive extra-time goal at the Stade de France.
However, a FIFA source has told Press Association Sport: "There is no way the game can be replayed.
"To do so would cause absolute chaos for football. If it was replayed, then every match in the future would also be subject to these calls for a replay any time a referee misses an incident.
"FIFA's rules are absolutely clear. Law five states that a referee's decision on points of fact are final. That is the end of it. You cannot replay the match on this basis.
"You have to have a rule that says the referee's judgement is always right."
Delaney's call came after the Republic party returned to Dublin still fuming at the way their World Cup dreams had been ripped apart.
Ireland led 1-0 on the night after 90 minutes courtesy of skipper Robbie Keane's 32nd-minute strike, which cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's winner in Saturday's first leg at Croke Park.
They then passed up several excellent opportunities to win the tie outright, but it eventually went to extra-time and it was then that Irish hopes were dashed.
Delaney said: "We have got to do what we have to do.
"We owe it to the players, who were magnificent. The supporters were incredible.
"It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress, I hear about fair play and integrity.
"This was not a league game. This was a defining game with the whole world watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.
"From the French FA point of view, they need to look at themselves in this situation.
"Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer, but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner?"
Delaney added: "If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn't be happy.
"I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night."
Both Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and assistant coach Liam Brady have called for the match to be replayed, while manager Giovanni Trapattoni question Mr Hansson's appointment for such an important game and suggested future ties should not go to extra time.
He said: "I would give the advice to FIFA - maybe in the future change the rules about the play-off. Play two games and at the end of 90 minutes, no extra time.
"I think there are mistakes in life - I have seen many situations in football. But change the rules.
"All sports lose credibility with this situation - it affects the integrity of the game.
"I will go to FIFA and advise them, 'Go straight to penalties'. It's better for football."
FIFA have ordered a game to be replayed before - Uzbekistan's 2006 World Cup qualifier against Bahrain - but only because the referee had made a "technical error" after a penalty had been awarded.
But the whole affair has left a sour taste as Irish disappointment at FIFA's late decision to seed the play-offs turned to disgust over Henry's contribution to their downfall.
Keane said: "It's an easy decision to do the seedings, isn't it?
"They are all probably clapping hands, [UEFA President Michel] Platini sitting up there on the phone to [FIFA President] Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result.
"France and Germany had a chance of being in the play-offs as well, two massive countries.
"There was no way in a million years it was going to be a fair draw - and it wasn't."
French sports teachers' union SNEP-FSU condemned Henry's handball as "indisputable cheating", and criticised the French Football Federation for not speaking out against it.
The union released a statement which said: "The France team will go to South Africa courtesy of indisputable cheating which highlights the downward spiral affecting football today."
The statement added: "The SNEP is surprised at the silence and absence of immediate condemnation of what happened by the Federation."
The union also said: "SNEP condemns and challenges statements made by coach Raymond Domenech and some of his players saying the main thing in sport is to win.
"All these comments are unfortunately linked to a 'very modern' philosophy stipulating that in all areas, including sports, the end justifies the means."
Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen, meanwhile, said he would raise the controversy with President Nicolas Sarkozy at a European summit.
But French Prime Minister Francois Fillon then urged politicians not to interfere.
"I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game," the Taoiseach
said in Brussels.
It is estimated that World Cup qualification would have been worth 30million euros (£26.7 million) to Irish football.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern led the first demands for the rematch, in the interests of fair play, backed by Brady and followed later by the Taoiseach.
"All we want is fair play," the minister said.
"Fifa are committed to the concept of fair play. Ironically, their Fair Play campaign was conceived as a direct result of the 1986 'Hand of God' goal by (Diego) Maradona.''
Football365
