Blatter proposes 'moral compensation'

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has suggested the Republic of Ireland should be given some sort of “moral compensation” after elimination from the World Cup qualifiers at the hands of Thierry Henry. On the day he announced the cost of their play-off defeat in Paris was at least €6 million, Blatter insisted a monetary reward for the FAI would not be appropriate.

In total, the 32 participants in next year’s showpiece will divide up €277 million between them, with each side guaranteed around €6 million, the winners boosting their coffers by €20 million and the runners-up promised nearly €16 million.

While a side that fails to progress past the group stages will receive just €5.3 million, they will also be given around €650,000 ahead of the competition for training facilities and preparation. Any side that progresses from their group is guaranteed €6 million on top of that, and that figure jumps dramatically to €12 million if they reach the quarter-finals and €13.25 million if they make the last four.

All in all, it represents a 61 per cent rise in prize money from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Blatter, however, insisted today that if the FAI was to be compensated financially it would lead to claims from other nations who felt short changed.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side were one nil up on the night and on their way to penalties in the second leg of their World Cup play-off against France, when Henry handled the ball twice before squaring for William Gallas to head home the decisive equaliser for an aggregate win.

"If you started to compensate teams not qualified you will have others coming to us," said Blatter today. "But you are right when you see this kind of matter where the whole world has seen foul play, then maybe there could be some kind of compensation for Ireland.

"We will look at that. Yesterday Ireland withdrew their demands (to be included in the World Cup as the 33rd team) and they asked to meet with us and we will do that next week."

The FAI has said it will wait and see what is meant by "moral compensation" before commenting on the matter.

For now, Instead of planning for a fourth outing on the biggest stage, the association is preparing for the next friendly and confirmed today it is in negotiations with Brazil over a visit to Croke Park on March 3rd next year.

With Argentina already pencilled in to open the new Aviva Stadium, the intention appears to be to bring the curtain down on the residency at Croke Park with another glamour friendly.

Brazil last visited Ireland in February 2008, when Robinho’s neatly finished goal in front of 70,000 fans saw the visitors win 1-0 at GAA headquarters.

Brazil coach Dunga, speaking in Rio de Janeiro, claimed a friendly against Ireland at the start of March was already a done deal, but an FAI spokesman stressed today that talks to bring the South Americans to Dublin again are at a "very preliminary stage".

“It is by no means certain the game will take place,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the FAI is looking to line up a number of high-profile friendlies in the run-up to next year’s tournament.

"We will be keeping a close eye on tomorrow's World Cup draw, which is sure to generate a number of offers,” added the spokesman.

Obviously, any side drawn in England’s group tomorrow evening would see Ireland as an ideal opponent to prepare for the finals.

Irish players may have taken offence at Raymond Domenech’s apparent suggestion Ireland could be viewed as an England B, but there are obvious similarities.

However, given recent history, should France be drawn against England in the finals the notion of Les Bleus seeking another trip to Dublin could be stretching things a little.