Paris - French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Friday that the second France-Ireland World Cup playoff match, which was decided by an illegal hand ball, should be replayed. "I'm of course happy that France has qualified for the World Cup, but I think it is very sad to qualify through such cheating," Lagarde told RTL radio. "FIFA should take a look at its rules and, perhaps, in such circumstances, replay the match."
Lagarde went on to say that if FIFA's rules did not permit such a replay, then the organization should "change its rules."
The Irish football association has formally asked FIFA to allow a replay of the match.
Lagarde is one of the few French ministers to comment on the controversy over striker Thierry Henry's handling of the ball that enabled him to set up teammate William Gallas for the goal that sent France to next year's World Cup finals over the Irish.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon have refused to comment on the incident, saying that it was up to sporting authorities to deal with it.
In France, Henry has come in for fierce criticism for making the play and coach Raymond Domenech has been slammed for justifying it by saying that winning is all that counts.
