LONDON (AP) -Video replays at the World Cup would not end referee mistakes, tournament organizer Danny Jordaan said Thursday.
He said he sympathizes with Ireland missing a spot in the finals after France striker Thierry Henry's handball on Wednesday night. After touching the ball twice with his hand, Henry crossed to William Gallas whose goal gave France a 2-1 aggregate win in their playoff on Wednesday night.
Jordaan says fans should accept that disputed decisions are part of soccer.
``Ireland played very well to come back and was fighting all the way, but unfortunately those decisions are the reality of the game,'' Jordaan said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. ``In football these things happen, we have come to accept they happen every week.''
And deferring calls to video replays is not a solution, according to Jordaan, who has seen inconclusive results from television evidence in cricket and rugby.
``A lot of incidents happen on the field of play and it is always possible (something similar) will happen at World Cup,'' said Jordaan, chairman of the local organizing committee. ``But research has gone into replays in sport and sometimes even after replays many people are still unsure of the decision because it still requires a judgment call by a human being.''
With all 32 finalists determined after Wednesday's playoffs, Jordaan attended a ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, raising flags from each of the nations.
``Many Irish supporters in South Africa were looking forward to seeing the team coming,'' Jordaan said. ``Many other teams' hopes were dashed with (African champion) Egypt not qualifying, while Russia also had high hopes of coming .... There are many happy hearts and many broken hearts.''
