Irish premier seeks France World Cup re-match

Our minister of sport will write to FIFA in support of that complaint and look for a re-match.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Thursday called on FIFA to order a World Cup qualifying re-match with France, saying he would raise the issue with President Nicolas Sarkozy at a Brussels summit.

Video replays showed striker Thierry Henry used his hand in the build-up to a William Gallas goal that sent France to next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, and asked if he backed the Football Association of Ireland's call for a re-match, Cowen said - Yes, I do.

- Our minister of sport will write to FIFA in support of that complaint and look for a re-match - he said on arrival at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels.

Cowen said that he and Sarkozy - will probably have a chat about it away from the table - but added that he wanted football's authorities to resolve the row "making sure that fair play is upheld here. -

- I am not going to raise it to that high diplomatic status -- I just want to see it dealt with on the basis of the regulatory bodies of football. -

Cowen said that - fair play is a fundamental part of the game and I think that the official complaint (the FAI) lodged will be suported by us. -

However, he also paid tribute to the French footballing public's outpouring of sympathy -- turning on their own team.

He said they had been - making it clear in great numbers that there is a lot of disquiet about the manner of the goal. -