Replay 'fairest solution' - Henry
France captain Thierry Henry has admitted replaying the controversial World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland would be "the fairest solution".
Friday, 20 November 2009
"I have said at the time and I will say again that yes I handled the ball. I am not a cheat and never have been", Henry said.
"Naturally I feel embarrassed at the way that we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa," he added.
Henry claimed his move had been an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.
"I have never denied that the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game."
"Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control."
Following the statement, Robbie Keane called on the French Football Federation to request a replay.
The Irish skipper said: "On behalf of the Republic of Ireland players, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for his statement this afternoon that in his opinion a replay would be the fairest option.
"As captain of the French team, to make such a statement took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that.
"As captain of the Republic of Ireland team, I would also be happy for a replay to happen in the interest of fair play so that whichever team qualifies, can do so with their heads held high.
"We can only hope that the French Football Federation might accept the wishes of both captains in the best interests of the game."
The FAI also called on the French Football Federation to request a replay from FIFA.
FIFA officially ruled that the World Cup play-off result cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed.
The world governing body said in a statement: "As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final."
The FAI chief executive John Delaney had called on FIFA to step in to preserve the game's "integrity" after France's controversial play-off victory over Giovanni Trapattoni's men.
Before FIFA's ruling, a source had said: "There is no way the game can be replayed.
"To do so would cause absolute chaos for football. If it was replayed, then every match in the future would also be subject to these calls for a replay any time a referee misses an incident."
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