FIFA to held ’special’ meeting after world cup qualifier woes

The Thierry Henry cheat storm could see Michel Platini’s radical plan for five referees introduced in time for the World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called an emergency meeting of the world governing body’s executive committee in Cape Town next week and the controversy surrounding the Republic of Ireland’s play-off elimination by France in Paris will be at the top of the agenda.

The meeting, which will come 24 hours before the ExCo were due to convene on December 3, has also been called in response to the hundreds of arrests across Europe by officers investigating corruption in football.

It has been arranged that members of the world football governing body will gather in Cape Town on 2nd December after the recent play-off matches created a number of talking points.

The meeting has also been called by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in response to hundreds of arrests across Europe by officers investigating corruption in football.

Fifa said in a statement: “Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the Fifa president has called an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee.

“The extraordinary meeting of the executive committee will take place in Cape Town on 2nd December 2009.”