DUBLIN, (Reuters) – Up to 200 Irish fans protested   at the French embassy in Dublin yesterday to demand a replay  of Wednesday’s controversial World Cup playoff.

The French Football Federation (FFF) has ruled out a replay, saying on Friday world governing body FIFA’s decision that the result should stand was final.

“We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which  would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a  world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf  ears at the French Football Federation,” John Delaney, chief  executive of the Football Association of Ireland, said in a  statement earlier yesterday.

Irish fans had already held a similar demonstration on  Friday.

“We will continue to call on FIFA to take action to ensure  that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to  recur,” Delaney said.

The association appealed to FIFA for a replay after France  striker Thierry Henry handled the ball setting up William  Gallas’s extra-time equaliser in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Paris  that sent France to the World Cup with a 2-1 aggregate win.