Other news in brief from the after-match reaction
Over two million tune in to match
AT ONE point during Wednesday's match at the Stade de France close to half of Ireland's population had tuned in to follow the fortune of Giovanni Trappatoni's charges. A phenomenal 2.06 million watched a heroic Irish team try and secure a place in South Africa next summer only to be ultimately undone by the hand of French striker Thierry Henry, writes John O'Sullivan.
Ireland's controversial defeat to the French night attracted the highest television audience of the year to date and the highest audience for any sporting event since 1995, knocking Ireland's Grand Slam decider against Wales into second place as 1.07 million people watched RTÉ 2 for the entire four hours of coverage of the game including pre and post-match analysis.
Indeed sport features in three of the top 10 cases as the All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary also made the shortlist.
McCarthy calls for use of technology
FORMER REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has called for the use of technology and claimed "football is the real loser" from Wednesday's events.
McCarthy, who skippered Ireland in the 1990 World Cup and guided them to the 2002 finals as manager, said: "It is a hollow win for France.
"The biggest loser here for me is football and the need for technology is a must.
"With a television replay in Paris there could have been a real winner.
"Until someone brings in goal-line technology and replays we will have to take it on the chin.
"I have got loads of thoughts on the incident and the aftermath but at the end of the day I think there are more influential people than me who can sway things.
"A lot of games this season have hinged on one decision. But it is the magnitude of this game - getting to the World Cup finals."
"I will be honest it was a handball but I'm not the referee. I told (Richard) Dunne and he said the same to me, 'you're not the ref'. That's why the players did not come to me, that's why they went to the referee. . . . The next thing I know the ball hit my hand, my arm even. It was right in front of me, I played it. The ref allowed it and that's a question you should ask him." - Thierry Henry.
The choices of Thierry
"Henry had two options. He could pretend that he had not broken the most basic law of outfield play. Or he could take the opportunity to neutralise the effect of his reflexes. To erase an error. To right a wrong. To be a man . . . We all know which way Henry decided to go. With a broad, exultant beam on his face, he raced away from the scene of the crime to join Gallas and their team-mates in celebration of a goal that all knew was likely to be decisive in the battle for a place in next summer's World Cup finals. For this was no ordinary piece of cheating." - Richard Williams in the Guardian
Close shave but Gillette won't cut Henry contract
GILLETTE HAVE no plans to sack Thierry Henry following his role in ending the Republic of Ireland's World Cup dream.
Henry admitted to handling the ball before setting up William Gallas for the decisive goal in Paris but has denied any intent.
He has nevertheless been the subject of much opprobrium over his part in the goal that ended hopes of Giovanni Trapattoni's side qualifying for the finals in South Africa.
But a spokesman for the shaving company, who feature the Barcelona forward prominently in their advertising, said: "Gillette is aware of what happened last night in the World Cup play-off game. Thierry Henry has publicly acknowledged it was a handball.
"Gillette are not placed to comment on any refereeing decisions made in the match or any refereeing at all for that matter.
"This is not going to affect our relationship with Thierry Henry."
Senator says FAI should sue Fifa
A SENATOR and leading lawyer last night advised Irish football chiefs to issue a writ against Fifa for negligence.
Solicitor Lisa McDonald said suing the world governing body was the only option after the controversial French goal was allowed to stand.
"If the governing body cannot find a way to offer Ireland a replay for a glaring technical error, then compensatory damages for loss of earnings will have to be sought by way of a law suit," the Senator said.
McDonald, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on justice and law reform, said a case should be fought on loss of earnings.
"In calculating the loss of earnings to the Irish team in this instance, we would also need to take into account any possible promotions and sponsorship and salary increases from which any claimant may have benefited from during a World Cup campaign."
Fair play - the definition
"Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly." - From the FIFA Fair Play Code for football
Ireland third seeds for Euro 2012
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland have been named among the third seeds for the Euro 2012 qualifying stages, alongside Scotland and Northern Ireland.
England will be among the top seeds for February's qualifying draw.
England won nine of their 10 qualifiers for next summer's World Cup and Fabio Capello's men will again be the highest-ranked team in their group. Wales will be among the fourth seeds.
EURO 2012 SEEDINGS
Pot One:Spain, Germany, Holland, Italy, England, Croatia, Portugal, France, Russia.
Pot Two:Greece, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Turkey, Denmark, Slovakia, Romania.
Pot Three:Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pot Four:Slovenia, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Belarus, Belgium, Wales, FYR Macedonia, Cyprus.
Pot Five:Montenegro, Albania, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Iceland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.
Pot Six:Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Malta, Faroe Islands, Andorra, San Marino.
