FAI (Football Association of Ireland), Ireland’s football governing body, are calling on FIFA to replay the second leg match between France and Ireland after video replays showed a most blatant handball by Thierry Henry on France’s winning goal. Citing a 2005 World Cup qualifying replay between Uzbekistan and Bahrain due to an incorrect referee’s decision, FAI are demanding that the injustice admitted by Henry himself, as well as officials from FIFA and the even the match officials, should be righted by a replay.
There is very little chance of this happening, though at least the Irish are citing precedence. In addition to handling the ball (twice actually), two French players were offside on Florent Malouda’s 95th minute free kick in Paris. Those are not necessarily grounds for a replay, but with the handling of the ball being so obvious, and potentially purposeful, hopefully FIFA will at least consider this outcome marred by the events that transpired at le Stade de France.
Update: FIFA have denied Ireland’s request for a replay saying that it would “cause chaos in football.” Not exactly sure how that’s true, but at this point it no longer matters. France are through to South Africa and Ireland are not.
KitNerd 