__NOTOC__ The FIFA logo.  , the world governing body for  , yesterday announced it was setting up a working group to conduct an inquiry into the introduction of assistant referees and technology into the world game, in the wake of the reactions to the controversial handball committed by French captain  during the 18 November France vs Republic of Ireland qualifying play-off game for the  . Yesterday, at the request of FIFA President  , FIFA held an emergency meeting of its 24 member Executive Committee in  , to look into various issues which had recently affected the world game, including the Henry handball. After the meeting, FIFA announced it will set up an inquiry to investigate the introduction of goal line technology and the global experimentation of using additional referee's assistants to officiate during a match, already being trialled in Europe. FIFA did not however take the widely expected action of announcing there would be extra assistants in place for the upcoming 2010 World Cup, stating this was "too soon" to be made possible. Blatter also re-iterated his long-standing opposition to the adoption of ing used in many other sports. Henry handball incident right There was a worldwide reaction after the Henry handball incident, which was missed by the referee  , with FIFA coming under pressure to make changes to avoid such a recurrence. Henry's illegal handball had led to the decisive goal being scored in the game by  , which saw France qualify for the World Cup ahead of the Republic of Ireland. The Irish football federation ("FAI") first called on FIFA and the French for a replay, but this was rejected by FIFA. They later requested to be allowed to be given an extra place at the World Cup. Blatter said FIFA was not ignoring the ongoing trials of extra assistant referees, which would continue in the  into the 2010 knock-out stages, but the executive was of the opinion that with these trials only occurring on one continent, any experiment should "be carried out globally" before being adopted in a World Cup, and that the six months remaining until the 2010 World Cup starts was too short a time to prove any such system. The 2010 tournament, to be held in June and July, would instead remain with the normal FIFA appointed officiating team consisting of four officials led by the match referee. On the issue of what types of technology might be investigated, Blatter confirmed that two companies looking at  were due to report to the rule-making  (IFAB) in March. According to AFP, the meeting also 'ruled out' the adoption of the type of ing as used in rugby, cricket and tennis.', while Blatter stated such a system would 'damage the flow' of the game and "take away talking points". Investigation of Henry Thierry Henry in 2008, in his club colours of  of Spain FIFA confirmed the FIFA Disciplinary Committee would "examine the case of Thierry Henry related to the play-off match". Blatter said: I have not said that Thierry Henry will be punished, I have said that Thierry Henry will be examined by the disciplinary committee of FIFA", but he added "it was a blatant unfair playing and was shown all around the world, but I don't know what the outcome will be, let them make the decision. Fair play must be maintained in our game Apology to the FAI After FIFA rejected an Irish request for a replay of the game, the FAI had asked Sepp Blatter to privately raise the issue at the FIFA meeting of whether the Irish could be entered into the 2010 World Cup as a 33rd team. According to the BBC, the FAI 'knew all along that there was very little chance of their request being granted but had decided to make it anyway on principle'. The FAI withdrew it before the meeting, after Blatter made their request public during his opening address of the Soccerex conference in  on 29 November. Blatter yesterday apologised to the FAI for how he had handled their request, saying: In this connection I would like to express my regrets - my regrets to a wrong interpretation of what I have said in the Soccerex. I have only announced they have asked it, but the presence in the Soccerex they don't took it very, I would say, seriously. So I regret what I have created and especially towards the Irish Football Association, I am sorry about these headlines going around the world. Contrary I have nothing against the Irish, they were very sporting people when they came to FIFA and it is a pity that it has been now communicated in this way. Sorry again."
__NOTOC__ The FIFA logo. FIFA , the world governing body for association football , yesterday announced it was setting up a working group to conduct an inquiry into the introduction of assistant referees and technology into the world game, in the wake of the reactions to the controversial handball committed by French captain Thierry Henry during the 18 November France vs Republic of Ireland qualifying play-off game for the 2010 World Cup . Yesterday, at the request of FIFA President Sepp Blatter , FIFA held an emergency meeting of its 24 member Executive Committee in Cape Town , to look into various issues which had recently affected the world game, including the Henry handball. After the meeting, FIFA announced it will set up an inquiry to investigate the introduction of goal line technology and the global experimentation of using additional referee's assistants to officiate during a match, already being trialled in Europe. FIFA did not however take the widely expected action of announcing there would be extra assistants in place for the upcoming 2010 World Cup, stating this was "too soon" to be made possible. Blatter also re-iterated his long-standing opposition to the adoption of video refereeing used in many other sports. Henry handball incident right There was a worldwide reaction after the Henry handball incident, which was missed by the referee Martin Hansson , with FIFA coming under pressure to make changes to avoid such a recurrence. Henry's illegal handball had led to the decisive goal being scored in the game by William Gallas , which saw France qualify for the World Cup ahead of the Republic of Ireland. The Irish football federation ("FAI") first called on FIFA and the French for a replay, but this was rejected by FIFA. They later requested to be allowed to be given an extra place at the World Cup. Blatter said FIFA was not ignoring the ongoing trials of extra assistant referees, which would continue in the Europa League into the 2010 knock-out stages, but the executive was of the opinion that with these trials only occurring on one continent, any experiment should "be carried out globally" before being adopted in a World Cup, and that the six months remaining until the 2010 World Cup starts was too short a time to prove any such system. The 2010 tournament, to be held in June and July, would instead remain with the normal FIFA appointed officiating team consisting of four officials led by the match referee. On the issue of what types of technology might be investigated, Blatter confirmed that two companies looking at goal-line technology were due to report to the rule-making International Football Association Board (IFAB) in March. According to AFP, the meeting also 'ruled out' the adoption of the type of video refereeing as used in rugby, cricket and tennis.', while Blatter stated such a system would 'damage the flow' of the game and "take away talking points". Investigation of Henry Thierry Henry in 2008, in his club colours of FC Barcelona of Spain FIFA confirmed the FIFA Disciplinary Committee would "examine the case of Thierry Henry related to the play-off match". Blatter said: I have not said that Thierry Henry will be punished, I have said that Thierry Henry will be examined by the disciplinary committee of FIFA", but he added "it was a blatant unfair playing and was shown all around the world, but I don't know what the outcome will be, let them make the decision. Fair play must be maintained in our game Apology to the FAI After FIFA rejected an Irish request for a replay of the game, the FAI had asked Sepp Blatter to privately raise the issue at the FIFA meeting of whether the Irish could be entered into the 2010 World Cup as a 33rd team. According to the BBC, the FAI 'knew all along that there was very little chance of their request being granted but had decided to make it anyway on principle'. The FAI withdrew it before the meeting, after Blatter made their request public during his opening address of the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg on 29 November. Blatter yesterday apologised to the FAI for how he had handled their request, saying: In this connection I would like to express my regrets - my regrets to a wrong interpretation of what I have said in the Soccerex. I have only announced they have asked it, but the presence in the Soccerex they don't took it very, I would say, seriously. So I regret what I have created and especially towards the Irish Football Association, I am sorry about these headlines going around the world. Contrary I have nothing against the Irish, they were very sporting people when they came to FIFA and it is a pity that it has been now communicated in this way. Sorry again."
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FIFA
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association football
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Thierry Henry
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2010 World Cup
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Sepp Blatter
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Cape Town
R
ing
video refereeing
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Martin Hansson
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William Gallas
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Europa League
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goal-line technology
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International Football Association Board
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ing
video refereeing
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FC Barcelona
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Johannesburg