Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane have refused to give up his World Cup dream despite FIFA rejecting the Republic of Ireland’s call for a replay with France.

The Irish skipper has called on the French Football Federation to heed Thierry Henry’s acceptance that a replay would be “the fairest solution”.

Henry – who handled the ball in the build-up to William Gallas’ decisive goal in Paris – came out on Friday to insist he is not a cheat, but admitted the Irish deserve to be going to South Africa.

Keane said: “On behalf of the Republic of Ireland players, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for his statement this afternoon that in his opinion a replay would be the fairest option.

“As captain of the French team, to make such a statement took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that.

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Robbie Keane have hinted that he would have enjoyed a fruitful career at Liverpool had there been a different manager. Rafa Benitez brought Keane to Anfield last summer but the Republic of Ireland international was given few opportunities to impress.

He was not a regular starter and was surprisingly left on the substitutes’ bench at times when he appeared to be a good option for the Reds. Keane, who secured a swift move back to Tottenham in the winter transfer window, insists he made the right decision to join Liverpool. But he admits he was perhaps not suited to working with Benitez, and has hinted that he would have liked to be treated with more respect.

“Of course I wish it had gone differently, but I have no regrets,” Keane told Icon magazine.

“I do believe with a different manager it would have worked for me, but different managers have different methods and some have different ideas than those you are used to or believe in.

“People have their own opinions of Benitez. I have nothing against him and will leave people to make their own minds up about him.

“When you’ve been around for a while as a player, all you want is a bit of respect and to be treated the way you feel you deserve to be.”

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