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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
THERE still won’t be a rematch but the fallout from Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France has prompted FIFA President Sepp Blatter to call an extraordinary meeting of the governing body’s Executive Committee in Cape Town, South Africa next week.
The FAI have responded to the news by saying they are willing, if required, to make a contribution to FIFA’s deliberations.
Although the FIFA announcement yesterday did not name any game in particular – and also refers to other contentious matters in the football world, including betting irregularities – it is expected that the extraordinary meeting will discuss the ‘Hand of Gaul’ goal, the refereeing of the game by Sweden’s Martin Hansson and the seismic upheaval the ensuing controversy caused in Ireland, France and around the world.
However, having already ruled out a replay, there is no possibility of FIFA changing their position, not least because next week’s meeting in Cape Town comes just 48 hours before the draw for the World Cup finals takes place in the same city.
In its statement yesterday, FIFA said: "Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA president has called an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee. The extraordinary meeting of the executive committee will take place in Cape Town on December 2, 2009."
In response, the FAI – who had not been notified directly about the meeting – issued the following statement: "In relation to this evening’s announcement that FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, has called an extraordinary meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee to discuss incidents at the play offs, the FAI confirmed that it heard about this meeting today through FIFA’s press release. Should we be asked to make any contribution, the FAI would be happy to do so for the improvement of the game."
Meanwhile, in the continuing fallout from last Wednesday night in the Stade de France, Thierry Henry has admitted that he considered quitting international football in the wake of the furore caused by his hand in France’s decisive goal.
"Yes, I asked myself the question," the 32-year-old told the French sports paper L’Equipe.
"Without the support of my family, I perhaps would not have made the decision (to continue). But I will always fight to the end – even if what just happened will be engraved. You can always forgive but you cannot always forget."
In a swipe at the French Football Federation, the Barcelona striker suggested they had been slow to show him support as he bore the brunt of almost global criticism.
"Despite everything that has happened, the fact of feeling abandoned, I do not let go of (playing for) my country," he said. "After the game, and even for the next two days, I felt alone, truly alone. It was only after I sent my statement that people from the French Federation appeared."
The former Arsenal striker had released a statement on Friday claiming a replay of the World Cup qualification play-off would be "the fairest solution" – hours after FIFA had ruled that the result could not be changed and the match could not be replayed.
But he insisted: "We worked on this release with my lawyer without knowledge that the international federation would meet the same day on the subject."
In the Stade de France last Wednesday, Henry opted to celebrate the William Gallas goal with his team-mates rather than immediately admit his handball offence to referee Martin Hansson, and concedes now that, that was a mistake. "I should not have done it," he said. "But frankly, it was uncontrollable. After all that had happened... yes, I regret it. That’s why, right after, I spoke with the Irish one by one."
Henry’s father Tony has also weighed into the controversy, not surprisingly on the side of his son.
Speaking to France Football from Guadelope in the West Indies, where he is based, Henry Snr said: "Thierry hears, reads and remembers everything. I tell you, he will remember for a long time those who pretended to be his friends and have betrayed him. I am thinking about people who have played football with him and have said a lot of things."
Henry Snr said he did not need to mention names but among those who have been critical of Henry’s actions are ex-Arsenal and France team-mates Emmanuel Petit and Robert Pires, and the former national team full-back, Bixente Lizarazu.
"I have kept a record of everything that has been said," said Tony Henry. "The only person I want to thank is Zinedine Zidane, who said everything that needed to be said. It’s just a handball, something that the ref hasn’t seen. Zidane is a gentleman."
Tony sent a public message of support to Henry, as the pair have yet to speak because Henry’s phone has been switched off. "Be strong, son," his father added. "France has got a memory like a chicken! Some people have tried to kill him live on TV, but I am sure Thierry will soon meet them again. I don’t want him to forget everything said about him. On the contrary, it’s good for him to remember."
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