Wednesday, 2 December 2009

Blatter under-fire as Irish request rejected

Fifa says there is no chance of Ireland being included in Friday
Sepp Blatter has been branded an 'embarrassment' as Fifa indicated there was no chance of Ireland being included in Friday's World Cup draw.

The Fifa president yesterday revealed the Football Association of Ireland had asked football's world governing body to consider letting them compete in South Africa next year as a 33rd team.

Ireland were knocked out of the qualification stages in the most controversial circumstances imaginable as Thierry Henry blatantly handballed before setting up William Gallas to score the crucial goal for France in the two teams' playoff.

Ahead of Fifa's extraordinary general meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said such a move would be 'impossible'.

But Ireland's assistant manager has heavily-criticised Blatter for revealing the Irish request and ignoring what he sees as the real issues.

Liam Brady said the 73-year-old was an 'embarrassment' and a 'loose cannon'.

'I think my country deserves more recognition from Blatter,' Brady said with regards to the measured response by Irish fans in the Stade de France on the night of the playoff.

'He has currently ignored most of the controversial things that went on that evening.

'He never had anything to say about that at all, like Henry's behaviour after scoring the goal and how that stands within his campaign to have fair play within the game.

'Henry celebrates as if he's done nothing wrong. Is that fair play? Hardly.

'But Mr Blatter chose to talk about the request to be considered as the 33rd team.'

Earlier, Valcke had said: 'We have to be clear that Ireland will not be invited to play at the 2010 World Cup.

'It's impossible. There is no hope that there will be more than 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.'

The draw for the World Cup finals takes place on Friday in Cape Town.ADNFCR-708-ID-19488996-ADNFCR

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