The deepening row over Ireland's bitter World Cup defeat to France after the scandal over Thierry Henry's handball risked turning into a diplomatic dispute.
WATCH JOHN DELANEY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
As the Irish Government and football bosses sent demands for a rematch to FIFA, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would raise the controversy with President Nicolas Sarkozy at a European summit.
But with pressure mounting on football's world governing body, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon then urged politicians not to interfere.
The cruel defeat in Paris was secured after Thierry Henry used an arm to control the ball and squared to team-mate William Gallas to score, denying Ireland a trip to South Africa.
'I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game,' the Taoiseach said in Brussels.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern led the first demands for the rematch, in the interests of fair play, backed by assistant manager Liam Brady and followed later by the Taoiseach.
'All we want is fair play,' the minister said. 'Fifa are committed to the concept of fair play. Ironically, their Fair Play campaign was conceived as a direct result of the 1986 'Hand of God' goal by (Diego) Maradona.'
The organisation's website states that the campaign was a direct result of the English defeat at the Mexico World Cup at the hands of Argentina.
'We now have an equally controversial handball goal. Fifa need to show that they are not paying just lip service to fair play but want to act on it also,' the minister said.
The FAI lodged a formal complaint with the world governing body, claiming the integrity of the game has been damaged.
'I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night,' Delaney said. 'The governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay.'
Delaney also confirmed the FAI have written to their French counterparts.
'We have got to do what we have to to do,' he said. 'We owe it to the players, who were magnificent last night. The supporters were incredible.
'It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress I hear about fair play and integrity.
'This was not a league game. This was a defining game with the whole world watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.
'From the French FA point of view they need to look at themselves in this situation. Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner?'
Delaney added: 'If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn't be happy. I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night.'
The FAI statement earlier said: 'The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself.'
The FAI believe there is a precedent for the result to be struck out.
FIFA ordered Uzbekistan to replay Bahrain in a play-off for the 2006 World Cup in Germany after the referee made a mistake after a penalty had been awarded.
The governing body described it as a 'technical error'. However, in that instance, the referee was guilty of wrongly applying the rules rather than missing an offence.
An indirect free-kick was awarded against Uzbekistan when one of their players encroached on the Bahrain penalty area as the Uzbeks successfully converted a penalty.
The correct interpretation would have been to order the penalty to be retaken.
FIFA confirmed this evening that they have received an official complaint from the FAI.
A FIFA spokesman said: 'We have received the formal request from the Football Association of Ireland regarding a replay of the match and FIFA will now look at this.'
The spokesman was unable to give a timescale on any decision.
