Ireland still in World Cup?

[Rookie]

If they had taken their chances in the play offs they would be in the world cup. If they hadn't got a dodgy penalty earlier in the qualifiers they wouldn't have been in the play-offs anyway.

 

[SurreySeagulls]

Why don't they all have a game of old fashioned 'Wembley' and see who wins instead of a World Cup Qualifiers. I'll start by going in goal.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

They have been cheated twice now though, Fifa deciding to seed teams the day before the play off draw or whatever was f***ing outrageous in itself.

 

[Spider]

Why is it that this particular incident can go so far without someone putting their foot down and saying - "sorry, you were unlucky, but...". Honestly, FIFA is so terribly run, it really is unbeliavable. The correct response would be to rule out any further action after the game but start taking steps to prevent this kind of thing happening again (which does not involve extra officials", rather than the idiot Blatter saying stuff like "I will being it to the attention of the executive committee".

Yet stuff like diving or video technology is not considered, or if it is in such a slow way that it's never realistically going to get off the ground. The sheer ineptitude of football's ruling body is unbelievable.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If the FAI has actually asked this its a little embarassing. Up until now, it was mainly the English media that had kicked up a fuss, and I actually think the FAI acted with a lot of dignity - a polite request for a replay, followed by an acceptance but condemnation of its refusal. This is a bit ridiculous. Wouldn't say no if FIFA offered it though!

I still think people are jumping the gun a bit to compare this to poor refereeing decisions or even missed chances, it was blatant cheating that won a game in a very very direct way.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If they had taken their chances in the play offs they would be in the world cup. If they hadn't got a dodgy penalty earlier in the qualifiers they wouldn't have been in the play-offs anyway.

Not true - look at the table.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I think that Ireland and Costa Rica should have a play-off, and the winner of that should be........




















...told to stop whinging and BUCK up. There's another one in four years anyway

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Oh and finally - appears this hasn't actually been confirmed by the FAI at all, and apprently was an off the cuff remark at a meeting, which has been mentioned by um...Sepp Blatter.

Its not like him and Platini have anything to gain by turning public opinion against Ireland's situation...oh wait, hang on.

 

[BensGrandad]

According Set Fattyre on SSN Irelands proposals will be discussed at a meting on Thursday.

 

[Cian]

If they had taken their chances in the play offs they would be in the world cup. If they hadn't got a dodgy penalty earlier in the qualifiers they wouldn't have been in the play-offs anyway.

Had the penalty not been granted and the result otherwise stayed the same, we would have still qualified for the playoffs. We finished 4 points clear of Bulgaria and our results against Georgia were discounted from the calculation to find the lowest points second place team anyway.

 

[BensGrandad]

If my sister had balls she would be my brother.

 

[throbinson]

so who says they would of quailfied even if henry didnt handle the ball

 

[saafend_seagull]

so let me get this right

they are saying ONE anelkas wasn't a pen when 99/100 it is a pen, and TWO they think they would have WON if Henry didnt handball? I would be so embarassed to be Irish.

 

[Paddy B]

so who says they would of quailfied even if henry didnt handle the ball

Is a very valid point. If the goal had been disallowed Ireland would not have qualified unless they:-

a) prevented France from scoring a legit goal in the remaining time
b) scored again in the remaining time
c) won a penalty shoot out

All of the above were more unlikely than likely

I would suggest that France were favourites anyway once Ireland failed to score a second in 90 mins.

 

[cannedheat]

it was mainly the english media that had kicked up a fuss, .

utter bolloxs

 

[John Boy]

I would suggest that France were favourites anyway once Ireland failed to score a second in 90 mins.

Why? If Ireland had scored a second in 120 minutes (e.g. 2-2 on agg) , they would have qualified due to the away goal rule.

 

[John Boy]

so who says they would of quailfied even if henry didnt handle the ball

Ireland would have had a chance to qualify if Henry didn't handle. They were denied the chance due to the handball

FWIW, as an Ireland fan, I don't think we should have had a replay etc, what happened, happened.

 

[John Boy]

utter bolloxs

Ok. If you read the Irish media, it was more of a case of torrid luck. Read the Englsih media, it was a case of Henry Must Die

 

[John Boy]

./.

 

[Martinf]

I'm 50% paddy and proud of it but this issue is now getting ridiculous. Yes Henry cheated but that is NOT why Ireland didn't qualify. It's one of the reasons but not the main one.