Brady brands Blatter 'an embarrassment'
Liam Brady has labeled Fifa President Sepp Blatter a 'loose cannon' following his comments on the FAI's request to be included as the 33rd team in next summer's World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
Tuesday December 01 2009
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady claimed Sepp Blatter has become a "loose cannon" and "an embarrassment to FIFA".
Ireland were beaten by France in their play-off by a goal which should have been disallowed due to Thierry Henry's handball and FIFA president Blatter this week revealed that the Football Association of Ireland were bidding to be installed as a 33rd team at the World Cup.
Brady claimed the FAI, having already had calls for a replay rejected, had expected FIFA to consider the '33rd team' request in private, rather than go public with it, and he expressed dismay at the way Blatter has dealt with the saga since Giovanni Trapattoni's side were cruelly knocked out.
"He's a bit of a loose cannon. He's an embarrassment to FIFA," Brady told Sky Sports News.
Explaining the decision to approach FIFA and ask to be included in the World Cup draw, Brady revealed the FAI knew the request was likely to be dismissed.
He said: "I think when we asked for that we knew there was very little chance of that happening. We asked because we wanted to have them respond in a measured way, and see what they had to say. After all Mr Blatter was responsible for the (match) official. He didn't say anything about the appalling mistake the official made to miss a blatant handball."
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