Blatter apologises to Delaney over Henry controversy

JOHN DELANEY yesterday revealed Fifa president Sepp Blatter had apologised to the FAI for the way he handled the Thierry Henry hand-ball controversy.

While bitter memories still linger of Blatter laughing at the FAI’s outrage at missing out on a place in the World Cup at the hands of the French, the FAI are pleased Fifa have started to show some compassion.

“I think November shook him, he wasn’t seen for a while. He subsequently apologised publicly as to how he behaved and subsequently apologised privately,” explained FAI chief executive Delaney.

“But apologies are fine, it’s easy to say sorry to Mexico, it’s easy to say sorry to England and I think he knows there is pressure being brought to bear from people who want to reform the game.

“Ultimately he’s president, but what actions will follow? That’s what I want to see but I’ll be surprised if there are changes.

“The International Football Association Board looked at goal line technology for two years, the system they have in tennis, and one day they decided ‘no we’re not gong to have that’.

“I’m not going to go into details on a private meeting. He spoke about Maradona in 1986 and the French player and Schumacher (in 1982), he spoke about those. I just said to him ‘When is it going to stop?’.”