**Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady says the team would be willing to replay their World Cup play-off match against France.**The Republic went out after Thierry Henry handled the ball before squaring for William Gallas to score and give France a 2-1 aggregate victory.
“We would go to Paris and play again,” Brady told Radio Five 5 live.
“It will not come to that but we would be willing to go to Paris, on their home ground, and have a fair winner.”
Brady did not go so far as to call Henry a cheat but he claimed the offence by the striker was deliberate.
“I asked Thierry Henry after the game and he said ‘I handled it but I didn’t mean it’,” added Brady.
“When you look at the film I think he kept the ball in play and he meant it. I wouldn’t go down the road of saying it was cheating, the players seek every advantage they can.”
Brady said he was more upset at the fact that Fifa decided to seed the play-off draw when it appeared as though some major European countries may miss out.
The Fifa rankings had Ireland in 34th place, meaning France, Russia, Portugal and Greece were seeded for the two-legged play-off matches.
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The top four teams were then drawn to face Ireland, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Ukraine and Slovenia.
The former Arsenal midfielder believes world football’s governing body sent out a message to officials with the ruling and added to the pressure on them.
“I wouldn’t blame Thierry Henry for what went on,” said Brady. "I would look at what happened three months before and the fact that the seedings for the play-offs were made to favour the bigger teams like France, Portugal, Germany or Russia.
"I would ask why that went on. The pressure on the referee is enormous then.
"We’d like to know what went on, why was the draw for the last eight seeded
“Up to then (the handball) the referee had done his job in a fine fashion but he then succumbed to pressure.”
Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has joined the furore over French captain Henry’s handball by demanding a rematch in the interests of fair play.
“They probably won’t grant it as we are minnows in world football but let’s put them (Fifa) on the spot,” the minister said.
"It’s the least we owe the thousands of devastated young fans around the country.
"Otherwise, if that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat, you will win.
"Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it.
“Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball - not to mention a double offside - and we should put the powers that be in the cosy world of Fifa on the spot and demand a replay.”