Ireland admits defeat in World Cup replay bid

Ireland has failed in its bid to have their World Cup play-off against France replayed, the Football Association of Ireland recognised in a statement issued on Saturday.

Ireland had appealed to football’s world governing body FIFA and to the French Football Federation (FFF) to have the second leg of the play-off replayed because of Thierry Henry’s handball in the build-up to William Gallas’s decisive extra-time goal.

Both FIFA and the FFF rejected the appeals and FAI chief executive John Delaney on Saturday acknowledged there was nothing else that could be done.

“We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation.

“Without doubt, the credibility of fair play has been damaged by this incident in front of a worldwide audience.

“Despite our deep disappointment, we thank our players, the wonderful Irish fans and the Irish public at large for their support, as well as the solidarity of the French people.

“We will continue to call on FIFA to take action to ensure that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to recur.”