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Friday, November 20, 2009
LIAM BRADY was clearly incensed in the immediate aftermath of Ireland’s cruel defeat by France and, 12 hours later, was still struggling to come to terms with the result.
"Over the two games we probably deserved to win," he said. "It hinged on a refereeing decision that was not correct but what can you do? I would not blame any player, I would not blame Thierry Henry for what he did.
"I would maybe look at what happened three months before when the seedings for these play-offs were made to favour the bigger teams, France, Portugal, Germany or Russia. I would ask why that went on? And the pressure on the referees is enormous then. Why was the draw seeded? Well, I think that is obvious."
Brady told RTÉ he believed FIFA’s priorities were bound to have an effect on the match officials.
"The pressure is enormous and it’s too much to bear. I thought the referee (Martin Hansson) up that point had handled the match in fine fashion. But he succumbed under pressure.
"He had decisions to make in the minutes before Henry’s handball. They claimed for a penalty that wasn’t – (Nicolas) Anelka dived and maybe should have got a yellow card. But when the pressure was really on, I think the Swedish officials, they succumbed."
Brady went on to say that the former Arsenal man had pleaded not guilty to malice aforethought after the game.
"I asked Thierry Henry after the game and he said: ‘I handled it but I did not mean it’," Brady said.
"But when you look at the film I think he kept the ball in play and he meant it.
"I would not go down the road of (saying) cheating – players seek every advantage they can. So we should ask FIFA, and I would ask FIFA, ‘do we want to play the match again?’
"Ask Mr Blatter ‘do you want to play the match again?’ I don’t think it would come to that but we would be willing to play it again in Paris on their home ground and have a fair winner."
Brady later backed the FAI’s request to have a replay.
"Yes, I think the FAI are completely right to ask FIFA and also the FFF to have a look at the possibility of a replay,’’ he said. "I think it will have to be driven by the FFF and maybe Thierry Henry to go to some extent to his own federation and say on behalf of the team he believes the match will be played again. I don’t think FIFA will step in – I think they will back the referee.
"The only chance we have would have to be a tremendous act by French football supporters to pressurise the FFF into offering a replay. It’s not going to happen, but it’s probably right to highlight this issue.
"The only reason FIFA seeded it was to try and make sure that the big countries like France and Portugal with Ronaldo got every chance to go to the World Cup.’’
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