Krong Angkor

No chance Ireland will be at 2010 World Cup: FIFA

CAPE TOWN (AFP) - FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke on Tuesday ruled out any chance of Ireland playing at the 2010 World Cup after the Irish asked to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team.

"We have to be clear that Ireland will not be invited to play at the 2010 World Cup," he said at a press conference ahead of the draw on Friday.

"It's impossible. There is no hope that there will be more than 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed this week that Ireland had asked to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team and that it would be put to the FIFA executive committee meeting here on Wednesday.

Irish players launched furious protests when they were eliminated in a play-off with France, after a controversial handball by French captain Thierry Henry led to the decisive French goal.

The play-off was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal.