French captain Thierry Henry has said that a replay of the France versus Ireland game would be a fair solution to his now famous hand ball controversy which occurred on Wednesday. But don’t expect FIFA to consider that option since the sport’s governing body has moved on after rejecting the Irish appeal.

Henry had handled the ball, whether inadvertently or not, before knocking the ball to defender William Gallas who scored France’s equalizer that earned the French a 2-1 aggregate win and send’s the disappointing Les Blues to the World Cup in South Africa.

The game was played at the infamous Stade de France Stadium just outside of Paris in the suburb of Saint-Denis in France. It was more than just another FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifier second-leg between France and Ireland; it was a game the Irish should have won in regulation time and Henry’s hand ball would have not been an issue.

The French went into their home game with a one-goal advantage after Nicholas Anelka had scored in Dublin. But Robbie Keane had scored for Ireland in the first half making it 1-1 on aggregate.

The game went into extra time, since both teams were tied after regulation time, and it was during extra time that the French captain handled the ball before knocking it to Gallas for the header that sent France to the World Cup.

“Naturally I feel embarrassed at the way we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa,” Henry said in an issued statement on his behalf.

“Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control. There is little more I can do apart from admit the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalizing goal and I feel very sorry for the Irish.”

As earlier mentioned above, Irish football’s governing body had appealed to FIFA asking for a replay; a fair suggestion in that sort of circumstance.

Though the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was going to appeal, the Irish coach, Italian Giovanni Trapattoni knew FIFA would not accept any appeal.

“I cannot ask this [appeal] because I know it is impossible. When a referee decides, it ends the game for me,” Trapattoni said.

The Italian coach had also criticized FIFA’s decision, a late one to seed the playoff draws as well.

Unfortunately for the Irish, they ran out of luck; it was not the luck of the Irish, as FIFA used it’s laws of the game to make a swift and immediate decision.

“FIFA has replied to the request made by the FAI to replay the World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland,” the sport’s governing group said on its website.

“FIFA states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final.”

Henry, who is at the core of the controversy, does not want to be labeled a cheat, as he attempts to deflect the blame elsewhere.

“I am not a cheat and never have been,” Henry said. “It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.

“I have never denied the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.”

Maybe it is time FIFA examines the use of instant replays. Also, an extra official on that sideline, as witnessed this season in the Europa League, would have caught that hand ball and signaled the referee. The ball is in FIFA’s court.