Ireland's bid to become the 33rd Nation of the World Cup is Not the Proper Route

In what is the latest chapter of the Ireland vs. France handball controversy, the Football Association of Ireland officially requested to be accepted as the 33rd team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Irish feel that they have been cheated out of a spot in the World Cup, and therefore deserve to be alongside France when the draw for the tournament takes place this Friday. While President of FIFA Sepp Blatter has already stated the Irish have 'No Chance" of becoming the first ever extra-team in a World Cup. This is just one of the many antics that have come from Thierry Henry's blatant handball which helped send the French to the World Cup, and left many unanswered questions for the Irish supporters.

As soon as the final whistle blew in Paris the tirade of the Irish had already begun, as players and coaches were calling out Swedish officiating crew for missing what appeared to be such an obvious call to everybody in the stadium with the exclusion of the three men who were carrying the whistles. TV, Internet, Radio, Yours Truly, Everybody on planet Earth went nuts of this call that sunk the World Cup dreams for the nation of Ireland. The very next day the call for a replay was being cried as the Irish-indeed the rest of the World-wanted the match to be replayed in order to find out who was the true winner of the series, and who should be in the World Cup. Organization Presidents, and even political leaders in both nations agreed a replay should be played in order to determine who should advance to the World Cup. The idea of the replay seemed to be the most logical solution after Thierry Henry himself, the villain of this whole mess believed that a replay would be the fairest solution. Many even cited the last World Cup when FIFA instituted a replay due to a mis-interpretation of a rule. However eventually FIFA and UEFA laid down the law and said that a replay would not happen.

From that point on the news story became quiet as the idea of a replay, no matter how popular, would just not happen. Then today, just a couple of days before the draw for the tournament the Football Association of Ireland, after many appeals for a replay or some type of review by FIFA, have decided to be included as the 33rd team in the World Cup.

Ireland made an official request to become the 33rd team of the one of the biggest tournament in the World, and the centerpiece of the Football (Soccer) World. ......I'll let that sink in for a moment or two..................

ARE YOU KIDDING ME IRELAND-THE 33RD TEAM! Is that really your best option. What in the World makes Ireland think that all powerful FIFA (who I believe is third in power behind the likes of the UN and NATO) would allow a team to become the 33rd nation to be represented in South Africa for next year's World Cup. It is not just like 'Hey Ireland thought they got cheated, we should let them play too'. NO, if FIFA allows Ireland to become the 33rd team in the World Cup, then they open up a door for any other nation you felt they got the short end of the straw during qualification. You cannot just add a team into the competition right before the draw (even though as Ireland already know, it is okay to change the rules before the draw of a competition *see UEFA Playoff Round Draw). Even if, and I mean a mega-IF, FIFA allows Ireland to become the 33rd team in the World Cup (which they will not) how will they do it. Have Ireland play France, or another team in a one-game playoff in South Africa to determine who will be in the last spot of the last group. Or, will it be where their will be seven groups of four, and one group of five. If they do decide to add Ireland into the World Cup, I suggest they use the one group of five approach.

HOWEVER, FIFA should not add Ireland into the World Cup. Do not get me wrong I sympathies for the Irish cause, and I feel they got cheated. I also feel there should be a reply, if the rest of the World (even France) want a replay then why can there not be reply. As long as their is a general concurrence then the rules should have the ability to be changed. I support the idea of extra referees to help the officials out, I support the idea of a reply to determine who should be the true winner of the playoff series. But I cannot support the idea of letting Ireland into the World Cup as the 33rd team. 33 is not even an even number-it just does not make logistical sense for them. I understand Ireland's pain and disappointment. And any other action I would support them on. However applying to become the 33rd team of the World Cup is not the way to go. If I were the head of Irish Football I would still be asking for a replay, I would demand repartition for the lost revenue, I would ask for letters of apologies. However asking to become the 33rd team of the tournament is not the way to go. It is not that I do not support Ireland (they truly were robbed of the World Cup, and deserve FIFA's apologies), it is just this is not the direction the Football Association of Ireland should be taking. Ireland you have the right intentions, but are not carrying out the correct actions.