Sir, – One thing that people with even a passing interest in football know is that “the referee’s decision is final”. That being so, it is quite clear that the FAI would have had a hopeless case if they had sought to challenge Thierry Henry’s handball, and Ireland’s consequent elimination from the World Cup in the courts. If the FAI successfully compromised this spurious claim by entering into a settlement agreement with Fifa for €5 million, it ought to be congratulated for playing a weak hand skilfully, not castigated for a failure to engage in pointless grandstanding. – Yours, etc,
Dr MICHAEL D’ARCY
Edgware,
Middlesex, England.