The FAI have finally admitted defeat in their bid to earn a World Cup play-off replay with France.

Chief executive John Delaney admitted disapointed by the refusal of the French federation to accede to Irish requests and thanked the Irish players fans and the public for their support.

 The Football Association of Ireland today (November 21) confirmed its disappointment that the FFF has refused to accede to its request for a replay, against the wishes of both captains, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, the vast majority of both the French and Irish people, and numerous highly respected figures of world football. Speaking today, Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland, John Delaney said; “We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation. Without doubt, the credibility of fair-play has been damaged by this incident in front of a world-wide audience. Despite our deep disappointment, we thank our players ,the wonderful Irish fans and the Irish public at large for their support as well as the solidarity of the French people. We will continue to call on FIFA to take action to ensure that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to recur.”