The FA of Ireland have written to the French Football Federation asking them to consider a replay of their controversial World Cup play-off second leg. France striker Thierry Henry twice handled the ball in the build-up to the hosts equalising goal, which sent his team to the 2010 tournament 2-1 on aggregate.
FAI chief executive John Delaney has also urged Fifa to “step up to the plate” by agreeing to stage a replay. Ireland have lodged a formal complaint with the world football governing body, claiming that the integrity of the game had been damaged by the Henry incident.
"We have got to do what we have to to do," said Delaney. "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?"
The FAI also claimed there is a precedent for the 1-1 scoreline to be annulled. Fifa ordered a replay between Uzbekistan and Bahrain in a play-off for the 2006 World Cup owing to a ‘technical error’ by the referee.
An indirect free-kick was awarded against Uzbekistan when one of their players entered the Bahrain penalty area as the Uzbeks scored a penalty. The correct decision would have been to order a retake of the spot kick.
Ireland’s case differs in the sense that the referee of the Bahrain fixture had wrongly applied the rules, rather than missing an offence altogether.
"The Football Association of Ireland is hoping that FIFA and its disciplinary committee will, on behalf of football fans worldwide, act in a similar fashion so that the standards of fair play and integrity can be protected," the FAI said.
