JOHN O’SHEA SAYS the Irish players would have taken a replay over financial gain after Thierry Henry’s handball in 2009.
Ireland missed out on a place at the 2010 World Cup after losing their play-off to France in controversial circumstances, and this week FAI chief executive John Delaney revealed that the association had received €5m from Fifa to stop them proceeding with a legal case.
O’Shea, who lined out for the Boys in Green during that infamous night in Paris, was questioned on the matter during today’s press conference and the 34-year-old initially explained that he is more focused on the two upcoming matches — against England tomorrow and Scotland next weekend.
“It’s one of those things and you’re aware of it because of the news,” O’Shea said.
“You just have to get on with it. The FAI have made everything as public as possible and have dealt with it as quickly as possible so we move on a concentrate on the games that we have coming up because they are very important for ourselves, the country and the fans. That’s what we’re focusing on.”
Former France boss Raymond Domenech this week suggested that the Irish players should demand a share of the payment, but O’Shea believes a replay would have been a better option.
“It is very easy for him (Domenech) to say that,” added the Sunderland defender.
“The important thing from our point of view is that the FAI have made things as up front and as clear as possible.
“If you’re talking about what the players would have been looking for from that point of view, ultimately the game was done and dusted, but if there was anything from it, it would have been a replay. It wouldn’t have been a case of monetary benefits from that point of view.”
