The FAI have confirmed that it will lodge a complaint with FIFA following last night’s World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.

WHEN Affif Belgecham, the European Union middleweight champion, arrived in Limerick on Thursday for tonight’s fight with Andy Lee at the University Arena, he was quick to point out that he wanted to make it a big double for France, whose footballers meet Ireland earlier in the evening at Croke Park in the crucial World Cup play-off.

Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger has said that the lack of atmosphere at the Stade de France will give the ‘Boys in Green’ an advantage in the World Cup play-offs.

QPR’s Martin Rowlands has been called into the Irish squad as Giovanni Trapattoni continues to sweat on a number of players who are nursing injuries in the run-up to Saturday’s big game against Italy at Croke Park.

The tradition of national anthems being played before international matches is under threat after FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested they could be banned to avert crowd trouble.

Ireland have moved to 20th in the FIFA world rankings following the recent victory over the Cyprus and qualification for the World Cup play-offs.