FIFA insist summit won't reopen door for Ireland
Tuesday November 24 2009
FIFA have called an emergency meeting of its Executive Committee to discuss incidents arising from the World Cup play-offs, but they have poured cold water on suggestions it could lead to a reprieve for Ireland.
Instead, the EGM in Cape Town tomorrow week -- two days before the draw for next summer's finals -- is likely to advance the debate on extra officials or video technology arising from Thierry Henry's handball in the Stade de France.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter (right), who has been silent amid the global storm caused by the dramatic events at Stade de France, instigated the summit. "Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA President has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee," read a statement from the world governing body yesterday.
However, any feint hope that it could be related to calls from the FAI for a replay of the game with the French was soon extinguished by a FIFA spokesman who ruled it out of the question. The Ireland-France match is not the only topic on the agenda, with incidents in the Algeria-Egypt play-off and betting issues in club matches also to be discussed.
The FAI effectively conceded defeat at the weekend -- blaming the French -- but they are prepared to offer input to the meeting if required.
"Should we be asked to make any contribution, the FAI would be happy to do so for the improvement of the game," read a statement from Abbotstown.
Blatter chairs FIFA's 25-man Executive Committee, which also includes Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer.
The villain of the piece, Henry, has attempted to tug at the heartstrings again by revealing his supposed personal torment since last Wednesday and confirming he considered international retirement.
"The day after the match and the day after that I felt alone, really alone," he said. "Despite everything that has just happened and the fact that I felt let down, I will not let my country down," continued the Barcelona star, who could yet be retrospectively punished for his handball.
Meanwhile, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has described Roy Keane's entry into the affair as "disturbing". Keane urged Ireland to "get over it", while attributing blame to Shay Given and Paul McShane and then making references to his World Cup exit from Saipan seven years ago.
"Roy Keane did great for us, so I'm not going to put the boot in there," said Quinn. "But I found the interview disturbing almost. It was pointless, and I think John Delaney's message was probably the stronger one. There's a lot of pressure now in football. Life is tough, but I would have disagreed personally with everything he (Keane) said."
Indeed, Keane has enough to worry about with renewed speculation about the security of his job. Ipswich issued a statement yesterday insisting the Corkman was safe despite a run of poor results.
- Daniel McDonnell
Irish Independent
