Just get over it: Domenech
France coach Raymond Domenech
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France coach Raymond Domenech has joined the chorus of laughter in response to Ireland's plea to be admitted to the World Cup finals next summer as the "33rd team" by calling on the FAI to replay their controversial qualifier against Georgia.
FIFA delegates began assembling in South Africa today for tomorrow's EGM of their executive committee, a warm-up for Friday's draw for the World Cup finals. And once again Irish football has found itself the centre of attention, following yesterday's revelation by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that only last Friday, an FAI delegation had pleaded with FIFA for Ireland to be compensated for Thierry Henry's handball in Paris by a once-off admission to the finals in South Africa as the 33rd nation in the 32-team competition.
"They asked very humbly, can't we be team No. 33 in the World Cup. They have asked for that, really," Blatter joked, promising that he would bring the suggestion before the delegates at tomorrow's high-level meeting, but also pouring cold water on the plan by claiming that, if Ireland were let in, then FIFA would also have to admit Costa Rica after they were knocked out in the play-offs by Uruguay with a controversial goal.
And now Domenech has suggested that Ireland need to move on, in response to Irish appeals for a replay of the controversial Paris game and then the "33rd team" request by referring back to a game earlier in the qualifiers, when Ireland only beat Georgia 2-1 in Dublin thanks to a very lucky penalty from Robbie Keane.
"We'll replay Ireland v Georgia. The Irish were not trying to lecture the whole world then, saying 'we will replay the match', " Domenech said today.
Although Blatter did say that he would pass on the latest request to his FIFA colleagues at tomorrow's special meeting, even senior figures in the FAI today admitted that there was no real chance of the appeal being granted.
- Aidan Fitzmaurice
