Irish ask Fifa for France replay

The Football Association of Ireland has lodged a complaint with Fifa asking for their World Cup play-off against France to be replayed.

Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-1 on aggregate after France won with goal scored when captain Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build-up.

Fifa insisted its disciplinary code says referees’ decisions “are final”.

And the situation took on a political aspect as the Irish and French prime ministers disagreed over the matter.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen called on Fifa, football’s world governing body, to order a replay, saying he would raise the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a Brussels summit.

But France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon responded that the Irish government should not interfere in footballing decisions.

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Tags: evra, gallas, goal, hand ball, henry, henry hand ball, ireland, keane, lloris, playoff, qualifier, republic of ireland, thierry henry, trapattoni, world cup, worldcup