Apology's just marketing; FORMER IRISH BOSS BLASTS CYNICAL HENRY & ASKS FIFA TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

FORMER Ireland boss Eoin Hand last night described Thierry Henry's apology as a "cynical" act.

Hand was expecting such a move from the French captain, who he claimed would have been put under pressure by his own marketing people to salvage his reputation around the world.

"I'm glad it's happened," said the Dubliner, who wants the FAI's showpiece Cup final at Tallaght on Sunday to be marked by a show of protest. "That's what I thought he would do and it's what he should have done - whether it's down to altruistic or cynical reasons, I'd be more liable to go with the latter.

"His people would have got to him on this. Henry is a respected figure and has plenty of commercial sponsors, and he can't afford this controversy. But he waited to make his statement and that certainly suggests it was a calculated act.

"However maybe now it will set the ball rolling."

Henry delivered his statement of apology - which also included a plea for the World Cup play-off between France and Ireland to be replayed - after FIFA insisted yesterday morning that there would be no rematch. Hand's own six years of Ireland were blighted by poor refereeing decisions that damaged hopes of reaching the 1982 World Cup.

"It was like Groundhog Day," he admitted. For now, though, he wants FIFA to take a stand and make an example of Henry.

"My feeling is this is a great opportunity," Hand said. "To me, it's shocking that this culture of cheating is now condoned in the game.

"FIFA should be about cleaning up their sport and here is a player of Henry's stature that should be made an example of.

"He is an iconic figure. I have had messages of support from Brazil, from South Africa, from all over the world. We need solidarity from other nations on this issue.

"Otherwise they are condoning what happened and that's wrong. "A n d f o r t h e ex-pros and pundits who have come out and said, 'it's okay, these things happen in the game' - that's not good enough.

"We don't accept drugs in sport and cheating cannot be allowed either. If the shoe was on the other foot, I know we would not be happy to qualify like this."

Hand says that, in hindsight, referee Martin Hansson would have loved to have been able to use video evidence - and that it's time FIFA acted in that field.

"The claim that the game would be disrupted is rubbish," the 63-year-old said. "It adds to the drama. With the technology, the officials will be seen to be doing all they can to get decisions right." The pressure is now on the French Football Federation to react and Hand believes the FAI's stance is the right one.

"We can't sit back and do nothing. In 10 or 15 years time, people will look back and wonder how we could have been so out-dated and not applied video technology.

"It's use in Tennis is very exciting, it's used to great effect in cricket for run-outs. It means you can be the judge at home.

"I am passionate about this because we have to cut out the acceptance that it's okay to cheat as long as you're not caught.

"It's so frustrating because we should be talking about how Damien Duff gave the sort of mature performance that once defined Roy Keane, and how good Glenn Whelan (inset) was - our rhythm was badly disrupted once he had to come off. "But this is an opportunity for FIFA to step up. They still can."