AHERN LEADS HAND DAIL FURY.

ANGER over the defeat in Paris reached the Dail with politicians angrily rounding on football's governing body Fifa.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern led calls for a replay and said Henry's handball was deliberate.

He added: "Irish supporters woke up today thinking this was a horrible nightmare.

"When you look at the Irish fans they have never given FIFA or anyone any difficulties when they go abroad. The least they deserve is fair play. We are being unfairly treated in this instance. Even some people on the French side have admitted it wasn't fair."

Mr Ahern, a passionate soccer fan, was the first to call for the replay.

He said: "They probably won't grant it as we are minnows in world football but let's put them on the spot. It's the least we owe the thousands of devastated young fans around the country."

Fine Gael's Alan Shatter launched a fierce attack on FIFA. He told TDs: "FIFA to its absolute shame on its website ignores the incident. There's no mention of Henry or handling of balls. It's been airbrushed off.

"This is a deeply suspect organisation in the manner in how it does its business.

"It's time there was EU regulation of football not just as a major interest to people but as a commercial enterprise."

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore couldn't refuse a dig at the financial class in the midst of the seething national anger. Turning on Swedish referee Martin Hansson, he said: "It struck me he might have a future as a banking regulator - blind eye and deaf to complaints."

Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: "Fair play is a fundamental part of the game." He said he would discuss it with the French President Nicholas Sarkozy but did not want "to raise it to high diplomatic status".