THE FAI’s dream of securing a replay of Wednesday’s World Cup play-off at the Stade de France was shattered last night when their French counterparts, the French Football Federation (FFF), formally said that they had no intention of offering to restage the game as a result of Thierry Henry’s handball immediately before William Gallas’s decisive goal.

In a statement issued from its Paris headquarters last night, the federation said that it understood the “disappointment and bitterness” of the Irish players “because French football has suffered events of a similar nature in the past”.

It acknowledged that Henry had admitted to the handball almost (though not quite) immediately and said that his honesty was a positive thing. “In view of the pressure he is being subjected to,” it said, “the FFF gives him their full support.”

Moving on to deal with the matter of the FAI’s request to replay the game, the federation simply pointed out that Fifa had rejected the request on the basis of the Laws of the Game which clearly state that the referee’s decisions in such circumstances as well as the subsequent result of the game are final. Both associations, the FFF said, are bound by this ruling and so, it said, “the match cannot be replayed”.

The word from Paris came after the FAI board had met to consider the earlier response by Fifa and what was said to be a brief letter to it from the FFF, believed to have been along very much the same lines as the subsequent statement.

Last night the Irish association said that it had written again to both of the other organisations. There appears to be a growing acceptance, however, that they have no real basis for pursuing the matter with Fifa while their latest communication with the French amounts to little more than a second polite request that the FFF offer a replay in the interests of fair play.

Any idea that the French might be tempted into playing ball, so to speak, on that basis appeared to have been scuppered already by French federation president Jean-Pierre Escallettes who yesterday paid tribute to the “dignity” with which the Irish had accepted their defeat before moving on to talk up his national team’s prospects at next summer’s World Cup.

“There were,” he said, “refereeing mistakes on both sides but the French put on a brave face and pulled through. I greatly admired the qualities of the Irish, though, both in terms of the way they played the game and also their attitude at the end.

“They were very dignified. I was impressed to hear some of their players wish ours good luck afterwards.

“At a moment like that,” he continued, “when you have missed out on the chance of going to the World Cup and you think that it’s because of a mistake . . . it’s a really big, generous attitude. They are a great footballing nation!”

Having dispensed with the niceties (and indeed, the Irish) he turned his attention to the tournament finals: “We will see the return of some legendary players at the World Cup who have not played in these play-offs. We had everything to lose this week; in South Africa there will be everything to play for.”

Escallettes’ comments came were made in apparent disregard of the fact that French skipper Henry had earlier claimed that a replay would be the fairest way of resolving the situation.

“Naturally I feel embarrassed at the way that we won,” he said, “and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa. Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control.”

Robbie Keane appealed to the French to heed their captain’s call in yet another of the day’s many statements. “It (the Barcelona striker’s statement) took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that,” he said.

“As captain of the Republic of Ireland team, I would also be happy for a replay to happen in the interest of fair play so that whichever team qualifies, can do so with their heads held high. We can only hope that the French Football Federation might accept the wishes of both captains in the best interests of the game.”

John Delaney, as it happens, had earlier all but conceded that they wouldn’t. “They haven’t made any comment to date,” he said prior to the reaction from Paris, “and I’d be surprised if they do but we had to ask the question. It (Henry’s handball) was cheating, there’s no other word for it.”

He went on to say that he would now campaign to have the rules altered so that players who got away with “defining” incidents during matches could be more easily punished for their actions afterwards.

“Players need to know that they will be dealt with after the game,” he said. “Thierry Henry can play in the opening game of the World Cup. . . that can’t be right.”

Asked about the possibility of the association now bringing the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, he was noncommittal but didn’t appear to favour such a move. “I think that would be a big call,” he said. “I’d like to get the views of the players, the senior manager and the board before we talk about that.”

Stephen Townley, a London lawyer who also acts as an arbitrator for the Lausanne-based court, has suggested that it would be a rather pointless one too. “Looking at Fifa’s statutes, this would come under violation of the laws of the game, in which case CAS could not pick up the dispute,” he said yesterday.

A DAY OF MANY STATEMENTSYesterday morning, it was France coach Raymond Domenech who had the first word, saying he regretted the performance of his team, the referee and the media.

“I do not understand why we are being portrayed as the guilty party,” he told L’Express.fr.

As expected, Fifa then rejected the FAI’s request for a replay on the grounds that “decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) was then happy enough to ‘abide by what Fifa says’ and urged all parties to “move on”.

In a personal statement, an “embarrassed” Thierry Henry then denied he cheated but added a replay would be the “fairest option”, though it was out of his “control”.

He concluded: “I feel very sorry for the Irish.”

Ireland captain Robbie Keane welcomed Henry’s “courage” on behalf of the Irish players and called on the FFF to grant the “wishes of both captains” and sanction a replay.

Following a board of management meeting the FAI joined Keane in calling on the FFF to join them in urging Fifa to replay the match, to “protect the integrity of the game worldwide and the pride of the French national team”.

The association added it had replied to Fifa’s earlier refusal of a replay.

Soon afterwards the FFF rejected the request, saying The decision by Fifa is final and should be respected by both federations.

The federation added it understood the “disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players, officials and fans”.