Soccer notebook: Irish demand replay with France for spot in World Cup

DUBLIN — Ireland appealed to France and soccer authorities Thursday to replay their World Cup playoff after an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry produced the winning goal.

Ireland's government joined the country's soccer association in demanding Wednesday's 1-1 draw in France be replayed in Paris. Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni dismissed the prospect as "impossible."

In extra time, Henry twice handled the ball, then passed to William Gallas in the Irish penalty box for the deciding goal.

France advanced to next year's World Cup in South Africa with a 2-1 total-goals score. At the time of Henry's actions, the game was 17 minutes from reaching a penalty-kick shootout.

"If that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat you will win," said Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, adding that two French players appeared offside from a free kick that preceded the goal.

"Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double hand ball, not to mention a double offside," Ahern said. "We should put the powers that be in the cozy world of FIFA on the spot and demand a replay."

The Football Association of Ireland cited FIFA's own precedent. In 2005, the world's governing body invalidated the result of a World Cup qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain following a referee's critical error.

Trapattoni appeared to immediately undercut that appeal by offering his own assessment of FIFA politics.

"I know it's impossible to repeat the game," Trapattoni said.

Instead, he urged FIFA and the European soccer's governing body to consider video replays, saying what happened to Ireland "can be repeated in the future. That's why we have to stop it."

In Switzerland, FIFA declined to comment specifically on Ireland's protests but pointed to its rule forbidding second-guessing of on-field decisions by referees.

John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland's chief executive, said he doubted FIFA would respond positively unless French soccer authorities agreed to Ireland's call for a rematch.

"There is a team that should be in the World Cup today, and that's us," Delaney said, adding, "It's up to them, in particular the French, to recognize there was a travesty last night, an injustice."

Earlier, Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady and several players appealed to France's sense of honor.

"If the game's going to survive, it's got to be an equal playing field," Brady said. "If we're going to have integrity and dignity in the world game, the game should be replayed. And we'll go to Paris to play it."

Some Irish players accused Henry of lying when he told them that his hand ball had been accidental and instinctive.