Brady calls for French replay
Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:53
Republic of Ireland assistant boss Liam Brady has called for last night's controversial game against France to be replayed following the controversial manner of the host's victory.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men lost out on a place in next year's World Cup finals to a goal scored after French captain Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball.
'If we are going to have integrity and dignity in the world game then the match should be replayed,' Brady said on RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny Show this morning.
He was also critical of FIFA authorities for seeding the play-off draw to favour the bigger teams.
Match officials who did not spot the foul had 'succumbed under real, real pressure' of 'the big teams have to go through', he added.
'Basically FIFA were saying we want you lot out and this lot in. They were not expecting us to put up the fight we did,' Brady said.
Henry admitted that he handled the ball in the build-up to the goal, but said it did not change anything regarding the fact that he was happy that France had qualified.
The second leg of the play-off ended 1-1 on the night at the Stade de France in Paris; but France went through 2-1 on aggregate having won 1-0 at Croke Park on Saturday.
The FAI have called a press conference in Abbotstown for 2pm, when Trapattoni is expected to give his views on the match and the Henry incident.
