Fifa will reject Ireland replay to avoid 'absolute chaos in football'

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 23:02

THE Republic of Ireland's furious pleas to have their World Cup clash with France replayed are likely to fall on deaf ears as a Fifa source last night indicated the request is doomed to failure.

The Football Association of Ireland yesterday submitted a formal complaint to Fifa after France's controversial play-off victory in Paris the previous evening, and that is currently under consideration by world football's governing body.

FAI chief executive John Delaney has called on Fifa to uphold "the integrity of the game" after Swedish 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 told a national news agency last night: "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 judgment is always right."

The bitter World Cup defeat now risks turning into a diplomatic dispute with the Irish government even wading in to the deepening row. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would raise the controversy with French president Nicolas Sarkozy at a European summit, although French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has urged politicians not to interfere. "I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game," the Taoiseach said in Brussels.

Ireland had 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.

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Delaney added: "We have got to do what we have to do. We owe it to the players, who were magnificent last night. 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."

Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and assistant coach Liam Brady also called for the match to be replayed, while manager Giovanni Trapattoni questioned 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. I will go to Fifa and advise them, 'Go straight to penalties'. It's better for football."

Fifa has 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. It will be desperate to avoid setting such a high-profile precedent by bowing to Ireland's demands on this occasion.