FAI reveal Fifa meeting details

Ireland meet with Blatter to discuss elimination

Last updated: 30th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

FAI reveal Fifa meeting details

Henry's infamous handball

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The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed they have requested to participate in next summer's World Cup finals.

Republic of Ireland were eliminated in controversial fashion by France in their play-off qualifier after Thierry Henry's handball was missed.

The striker controlled the ball with his hand before crossing for William Gallas to stab home the goal that ultimately eliminated Ireland.

The FAI met with Fifa president Sepp Blatter to discuss the incident where various methods were discussed that could avoid repeating the injustice.

Request

The association have confirmed they requested they be reinstated to next year's finals while also calling for the use of video technology in crucial matches.

"The Football Association of Ireland today (November 30) confirmed that it attended an hour and a half meeting, at its request, with Mr Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA on Friday in Zurich," read an FAI statement.

"A lot was discussed at the meeting and at one stage the FAI asked if Ireland could be accommodated into the World Cup 2010.

"Other suggestions were also made to mitigate against further occurrences of such incidents, including the use of additional goal line assistant referees for Fifa international matches, further use of video technology for matches at the highest level, stronger provisions to discourage players from engaging in such blatant breaches of the Laws of the Game and provisions to strengthen referee selection for such important matches."