The Football Association of Ireland has lodged an official complaint with soccer's governing body FIFA over the controversial handball by Thierry Henry which dumped Ireland out of the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup.

And the FAI has cited precedent for the game to be replayed.

The play-off between Uzbekistan and Bahrain for the 2006 World Cup had to be replayed after FIFA said the referee had made a "technical error" after awarding a penalty

Now, the FAI hopes that FIFA will again award a replay.

"The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself,'' the FAI said.

Assistant Irish coach Liam Brady and Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern have both called for the game to replayed.