Martin to discuss game with counterpart

MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said that he will talk to his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in the wake of the Ireland-France soccer World Cup controversy.

Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter asked that the Government intervene to ensure the introduction of video refereeing in all major soccer matches before the start of the European championships.

His party colleague Charlie Flanagan suggested the French should offer a rematch as a “matter of honour” and that the Minister for Foreign Affairs could have a role in this.

Mr Martin reminded the Opposition of how the Cork GAA football team was treated by Kerry over the years, but said: “I will take up the matter with Bernard Kouchner.”

In the wake of Ireland’s exit from the World Cup, Mr Shatter described the world soccer governing association Fifa as a “deeply suspect organisation in the manner in which it does business”, adding that what happened in the match “contaminated the credibility of the World Cup competition”.

He also said the match was won by “sleight of hand” and “in football as well as banking, light-touch regulation does not work”.

He demanded that legislation be enacted, if needed through an EU directive, “which requires Fifa to use video refereeing in major football competitions” and he called for the Minister for Sport to organise a meeting of all 27 EU ministers to do this.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said video refereeing was “available in rugby and tennis and I’m sure the relevant sporting organisations should be in a position to pursue that vigorously”.

Mr Shatter insisted: “This has gone past the point where we leave it to the relevant sporting organisations. Fifa, to its absolute shame on its website, ignores the incident that happened last night. There is no mention of Thierry Henry or handling the ball. It has been airbrushed from the record.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said: “We all share the disappointment at the result of last night’s match and a certain amount of anger and frustration at the unfair way it came about. The one thing we all feel is enormous pride in the team that played for Ireland last night. We can be proud in defeat, even in circumstances where the defeat is unfairly inflicted.”

He suggested that Swedish referee Martin Hansson might have a future in banking. “It struck me that he might have a future as a banking regulator, turning the blind eye and deaf ear to complaints. He has many of the qualities we have seen in banking regulation in this country over a number of years.”

When Mr Shatter insisted that there should be a meeting of all 27 sports ministers, Mr Martin said he was “calling for strong-arm diplomatic tactics”.

Mr Flanagan suggested that Mr Martin “might consider contacting his counterpart in France to encourage them to take a leaf out of the GAA’s book in Co Laois on the matter of a disputed point in a first round match with Carlow.

“In an act of generosity and as a matter of honour, a full replay was offered. I suggest that this is a matter of honour and the Minister for Foreign Affairs may well have a role to play in dealing with this.”

Mr Martin, making an elbowing gesture, said the Opposition knew “what Kerry did to us over the years, but I will take the matter up with Bernard Kouchner”.

“Having regard to the fact that President Sarkozy was seen entering the dressing room,” Mr Flanagan said, “I am sure it would be appropriate for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take action in that regard.”