Delaney: FIFA are the big losers

IT’S finally case closed on Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand of Gaul’ – at least as far as Irish football is concerned.

But, following yesterday’s emergency meeting of FIFA in Cape Town to discuss the fallout from Ireland’s play-off against France and other issues, attention will finally focus on the 32 teams who go into tomorrow’s draw for the finals next summer.

Ireland, of course, are not among them. Instead, the final flurry of verbal punches and licking of wounds took place yesterday, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter apologising for his remarks on Monday which prompted laughter at Ireland’s expense and FAI chief executive John Delaney saying the world governing body had been the big losers in the saga.