FIFA REJECT IRELAND REQUEST

Henry handball: Ireland still unhappy

Fifa have rejected Republic of Ireland's request to become the 33rd team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Football Association of Ireland made the request to world football's governing body in the wake of Thierry Henry's now-infamous handball in France's play-off victory over Giovanni Trapattoni's side.

Ireland never expected their audacious request to be met with anything other than a rejection, but were keen to gain a response from Fifa over the Henry incident.

The former Arsenal striker clearly controlled the ball with his hand before crossing for William Gallas to score an extra-time equaliser which secured a 2-1 aggregate victory at the Stade de France.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke admitted it was "impossible" to change the structure of the tournament, with the draw due to take place in Cape Town on Friday, when the 32 qualified teams will be split into eight groups of four.

Valcke added that agreeing to Ireland's request would open Fifa to numerous other complaints from sides who felt they had been hard done by during the qualifying tournament.

Valcke said: "We have to be clear that Ireland will not be invited to play at the 2010 World Cup.

"It's impossible. There is no hope that there will be more than 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has already angered Ireland assistant coach Liam Brady with the manner in which he revealed the Republic's request, with Brady branding him "an embarrassment" and a "loose cannon".