FIFA says it won’t let Ireland into World Cup despite Thierry Henry’s handball

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FIFA, soccer’s governing body, says Ireland will not be invited to the World Cup as a 33rd team despite the handball by Thierry Henry that helped France eliminate the Irish from World Cup contention.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said it was ‘impossible’ to change the structure of the tournament.

He said allowing Ireland to compete in the World Cup would make it harder for FIFA to say no to other teams that felt they were cheated during qualifying.

-- Houston Mitchell