Press Release

Thursday 19 November 2009

Statement by Minister Martin Cullen TD

On the France v Republic of Ireland Game

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen TD, has written to the President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to ask him that in the interests of fair play, to support the position of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and to organise for last night’s match in Paris to be replayed.

Below is the content of Minister Cullen’s letter to the FIFA President:

Dear Mr Blatter

I am writing to you as the Irish Minister for Sport following the outcome of last night's World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris. I am sure you are aware of the enormous public disquiet both here in Ireland and internationally at the unfair manner by which the French victory was achieved.

I urge FIFA, as the world governing body for football, to organise for this match to be replayed in the interests of fair play and the continued integrity of the sport.

I understand that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have lodged a complaint with your organisation and have also requested a replay of the match and I fully support this course of action. I understand that there is precedence in place since 2005 for such a decision.

I appeal to FIFA's sense of Fair Play as contained in your organisation's Fair Play Code which advocates under its first golden rule of Play Fair that "Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly."

The sport of football and the actions of its players act as a significant role model for our children and young people. The positive actions of your organisation in developing the sport and the investment here in Ireland by the Irish Government in encouraging participation in the sport, means that it is vital that the integrity of the game is maintained. It is extremely damaging to the sport at all levels if the public perception is that games are not being played and administered fairly.

Yours sincerely

_______________

Martin Cullen TD

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

ENDS

Issued by: Michelle Hoctor, 01 6313876