**France striker Thierry Henry is to be investigated by Fifa’s disciplinary committee over his handball against the Republic of Ireland last month.**The Republic failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, losing 2-1 on aggregate to an extra-time goal, courtesy of the assist by Barcelona’s Henry.
Fifa’s executive committee met on Wednesday to consider the incident as part of a disciplinary crackdown.
Fifa said there was no certainty that Henry would be banned if found guilty.
The governing body’s president Sepp Blatter told a news conference: “I have not said that Thierry Henry will be punished, I have said that Thierry Henry will be examined by the disciplinary committee of Fifa.”
Asked why FIFA were making a special case of Henry, Blatter replied: “This is a matter of the disciplinary committee and it’s not a question of this player or another - it was a blatant unfair playing and was shown all around the world, but I don’t know what the outcome will be.”
Blatter said players and managers should be aware that the “eyes of the world” would be on them in South Africa next summer.
“I appeal to all the players and coaches to observe this fair play. In 2010 we want to prove that football is more than just kicking a ball but has social and cultural value,” he said
“So we ask the players ‘please observe fair play’ so they will be an example to the rest of the world.”
Henry twice handled the ball before crossing to William Gallas, who scored the equaliser against the Republic in the play-off in November to put France into next year’s finals.
On the back of the furore surrounding the incident, Fifa met at Cape Town to consider goal-line technology and extra referees for the finals in South Africa.
However, the sport’s governing body decided against using additional referees at the World Cup and have instead opted to set up an inquiry into the benefits of video technology and extra officials.
Fifa were initially asked to consider the Republic’s plea for an extra place in the finals, but the Football Association of Ireland withdrew that request ahead of the executive committee’s meeting in Cape Town.