Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would raise the disputed goal with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on the fringes of this evening's EU summit, adding that the Government will support the FAI's call for a rematch."I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game and I think the official complaint they have lodged will be supported by us," Mr Cowen said as he arrived at the summit in Brussels."Our Minister for Sports actually will write to Fifa in support of that complaint and look for a rematch."Asked whether he would discuss the matter with Mr Sarkozy, the Taoiseach said "we'll probably have a chat about it away from the table."Asked if he would raise the question of the French having to agree to rematch, Mr Cowen said: "I want to acknowledge the sense of fair play of the French public who have been making it clear in great numbers that there would be a lot of disquiet about the manner of the goal. But I'm not going to raise it to that high diplomatic status."He added: "I just want to see dealt with on the basis of the regulatory bodies of football, making sure that fair play is upheld here."French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said it was not up to either government to get involved in Fifa decisions.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would raise the disputed goal with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on the fringes of this evening's EU summit, adding that the Government will support the FAI's call for a rematch.
"I think that fair play is a fundamental part of the game and I think the official complaint they have lodged will be supported by us," Mr Cowen said as he arrived at the summit in Brussels.
"Our Minister for Sports actually will write to Fifa in support of that complaint and look for a rematch."
Asked whether he would discuss the matter with Mr Sarkozy, the Taoiseach said "we'll probably have a chat about it away from the table."
Asked if he would raise the question of the French having to agree to rematch, Mr Cowen said: "I want to acknowledge the sense of fair play of the French public who have been making it clear in great numbers that there would be a lot of disquiet about the manner of the goal. But I'm not going to raise it to that high diplomatic status."
He added: "I just want to see dealt with on the basis of the regulatory bodies of football, making sure that fair play is upheld here."
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said it was not up to either government to get involved in Fifa decisions.
Ireland were robbed, it's true, but other teams have been robbed before -- including France, btw.
AFAIK those games were not granted a rematch. Ref mistakes happen, always have, always will. Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
