After Thierry Henry confessed that he handled the ball in the build-up to the goal which sent France to next summer’s World Cup, Irish football officials have lodged an official complaint with world ruling body FIFA.

Henry guided the ball with his hand twice, before William Gallas scored from his resulting cross to give “Les Bleus” a narrow win in the two-legged World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland, television cameras showed.

After the match in Paris, the Barcelona striker told reporters, “I will be honest. It was a handball but I am not the referee.”

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern had asked the Football Association of Ireland to demand a replay in the interests of fair play, the Irish Justice Ministry confirmed.

In a statement, Ahern said, “Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it. Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball–not to mention a double offside–and we should put the powers that be in the cozy world of FIFA on the spot and demand a replay.”

(article and photo source: CNN)