Former Liverpool and Ireland legend Ray Houghton has blasted FIFA president Sepp Blatter for his handling of the controversy following France's world cup play-off win in Paris last month.
Blatter revealed yesterday that the FAI had requested that the Republic be allowed into next summer's tournament in South Africa as a '33rd' nation.
He was seen to join in the laughter of delegates at the conference he was addressing in South Africa yesterday when he broke the news, and Houghton feels that the Swiss was laughing in the face of the Irish nation.
"What he's doing is taking the mickey out of the Irish public as if they don't really matter," Houghton said.
"It's a disgrace. They were laughing at the Irish public which is shocking. The players worked so hard for two years to get to the World Cup and then some fellow's laughing about it and he's the head of FIFA.
"I can't believe he's in the position he is. When you're looking for leadership qualities and someone to make a stand… what's going to happen to Thierry Henry? Nothing.
"What we're saying now is that you can cheat and score and it's alright. That sends out the wrong message to the kids and what we need is someone to say 'this is not going to happen'."
And Houghton thinks that a similar thing would have happened had it been England and not Ireland embroiled in the controversy.
"Blatter's quick to criticise Premier League clubs for spending too much money but I didn't hear too much when Real Madrid spent £80 million on Ronaldo and £60 million on Kaka. Blatter didn't say the Spanish were spending too much.
"If it was France, Germany or Spain and certainly Brazil or Argentina there would have been mayhem. You only have to look at what they did to the play-off seedings.
"The biggest tournament in the world and they left it until three weeks before the play-offs to decide there would be seeds.
"When you look at the way he's treated Ireland and the competition it underlines how he has not led FIFA particularly well. He's a man who does what he wants even though I couldn't tell you what he does. To be ridiculed twice, laughing at the Irish after the seedings change, is shocking."
Ireland assistant coach Liam Brady has also blasted Blatter for ignoring requests for the details of the meeting between the FAI and FIFA to remain confidential.