BRUSSELS - FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed sympathy on Thursday for the people of Ireland after their national football team was deprived of a World Cup berth by a goal that should not have been awarded.
Video replays showed striker Thierry Henry used his hand in the build-up to a William Gallas goal in extra time that sent France to next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.
After talks with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels, Mr Sarkozy said: 'I told Brian Cowen how sorry I was for them.'
'But don't ask me to substitute myself for the referee, or the French football authorities, or the European football authorities: leave me right where I am,' he told reporters. 'You're going to start denouncing me as the hyper-president again.' He said this in reference to his reputation as a leader who is drawn to the limelight and seeks to get involved in as many international issues as possible.
Mr Cowen, for his part, said that talking about the match 'wasn't the purpose of the meeting' between EU leaders.
However he said he believed after the chat with Mr Sarkozy that 'he would understand the sense of disappointment that the Irish people feel after the tremendous performance last night.' 'This matter's going to be resolved by the sports organisations with responsibility for football, not in Brussels or anywhere else,' he said.
Asked whether he told Sarkozy the match should be played again, Mr Cowen said: 'No, I didn't ask for a replay.' -- AFP
