Sepp Blatter apologized to the Irish football federation on Wednesday after it criticized the FIFA president for his comments on Ireland's loss to France in a World Cup playoff last month.
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France won after Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting up the decisive goal. Blatter defended the France forward saying it was not Henry's responsibility to tell the referee. On Wednesday, he added that such an incident was an inescapable part of the game.
The Irish federation also criticized Blatter for making public Ireland's request to be allowed into the World Cup as an extra team. Ireland later withdrew the request.
"I regret what I have created. I am sorry about these headlines," Blatter said. "It is a pity that it has been communicated in this way.
"Sorry again."
The Irish federation said in a statement that "for a man in Mr. Blatter's position to empathize with someone who scored a goal by cheating is inappropriate."
Blatter admitted illegal tactics himself as a forward during his playing days in Switzerland.
"I was myself a striker and we tried to go to goal," Blatter said. "I used my hands but not with the ball. I used my hands to push the opponents away. This is football."
The federation wanted Blatter to "issue a clear statement that FIFA does not condone breaches of the laws of the game."
Blatter also had to disappoint the Irish on their request for FIFA to introduce video technology to spot such cases and add goal line assistant referees who would likely have spotted Henry's handball.
On both issues, which were ruled out of the upcoming World Cup, Blatter said that FIFA would do more studies.
