Republic Of Ireland And France Replay Unlikely Under FIFA Ruling Any calls for a play-off replay will likely be rejected. Nov 19, 2009 11:45:53 AM
Photo Gallery Zoom Robbie Keane Goal (France vs Ireland) Teams Ireland Republic
Justice Minister for the Republic of Ireland, Dermot Ahern, has called for a replay of the second-leg play-off that resulted in a 1-1 tie after extra-time, denying Ireland a passage to the World Cup finals in South Africa due to a contentious added-time goal struck by France defender William Gallas after a hand-ball by Thierry Henry.
However, Ahern's desire for a rematch will likely be rejected, as they contravene FIFA ruling that explicitly state that the referee's decision is final.
Law 5 of the Laws of the Game state that: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final."
It continues: "The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match."
In relation to the standard of overall refereeing, and the inclusion of video technology, FIFA issued the following comment, claiming that technology would jeopardize the human element of the game, while additional referees are currently in experimental stages: "FIFA has consistently underlined that it is crucial that the same laws and conditions must apply worldwide so as to avoid any distortions in competitions, including the World Cup.
"For example, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, there have been over 850 preliminary qualifying matches played on six continents in order to determine the 31 countries joining South Africa in the draw next month.
"Amongst others issues, the questions of the human aspect of the game as well as the universality of the Laws of the Game have to be taken into consideration.
"The International Football Association Board (IFAB) which is the custodian of the Laws of the Game, decided at their Annual General Meeting in 2009 to introduce Additional Assistant Referees into a top level competition.
"The season-long implementation in the UEFA Europa League will conclude in May 2010, and a full analysis will be reviewed by IFAB at its annual meeting in 2011.
"IFAB sees each of the four 'Home Nations' have one vote each, whilst FIFA also has four votes which represents the other 204 FIFA Member Associations. For any proposal regarding the Laws of the Game to be approved, any proposal requires a 75 per cent majority."
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
FIFA - For the good of the game The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Irish Minister for Sport, Taoiseach and Facebook social network groups are requesting a replay of the controversial FIFA World Cup play-off between Ireland and France in the interests of Fair Play. The FAI lodged an appeal with FIFA and also contacted the French Football Federation (FFF), it appears FAI hopes FFF may agree that a replay is fair play. Both captians, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, have called for a replay. 

The Irish supporters, who in the past have won the FIFA Fair Play Award, are angry after a blatant double handball by Thierry Henry enabled France to score the extra-time goal that cost Ireland entry to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. Most Irish anger has been directed at FIFA, although French captain Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball. 

FAI has argued that there is a strong precedent; in 2005 where FIFA invalidated the result of a FIFA World Cup qualification match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain on the basis of a technical error by the match referee. However, Law 5 of the Laws of the Game state that: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final." and a source at Fifa headquarters in Switzerland said that “there is no way the game can be replayed”. The generic concept of fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football and the Fair Play Campaign was conceived largely as an indirect result of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, when the handball goal by Diego Maradona.

The referee Martin Hansson and (referee's assistants) Stefan Wittberg and Fredrik Nilsson were unable to see the incident but didn't ask Thierry Henry if he handled the ball. Its hoped the mistake won't cost the Swedish referee's a place in South Africa. FIFA's Fair play policy is playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. The French union representing the nation’s gym teachers declared outrage at what it called “indisputable cheating.”

Minister for Sport Martin Cullen wrote to FIFA president Sepp Blatter urging him to call a rematch in the interests of fair play. Taoiseach Brian Cowen raised the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on the fringes of last night’s EU summit. French Prime minister François Fillon said “neither the French government nor the Irish Government should interfere in the functioning of the international federation”.