The last time an Irish football story made global headlines, the FAI was forced to air its dirty linen in public.

Seven years after Saipan, the circumstances couldn't be any more different.

Now, the top administrators in the game worldwide have no option but to confront their festering issues.

Last night, Giovanni Trapattoni was bereft of his usual positive demeanour as he sat in the VIP lounge at Dublin airport struggling to come to terms with the manner in which officialdom had returned to haunt him. “Do you want me to cry again?” he responded, when asked about his private emotions in the hours after the game. For once, he looked his age.

His bitterest experience in football before Wednesday night was the series of remarkable decisions that precipitated Italy's departure from that World Cup to co-hosts South Korea.

He muttered the name of that match's Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno to Italian media as he entered the post-robbery press conference in the Stade de France.

As the manager of a major power in world football, there was little sympathy for Trapattoni. This time, the weight of feeling is behind the 70-year-old who finds himself back in the global headlines in the worst manner possible.

When taking this role, he surely could never have imagined that a match involving Ireland would result in such a fall-out for both his team and the sport as a whole.

NEW LEGISLATION INEVITABLE

There will be no replay barring unprecedented political manoeuvring but this game could leave a legacy.

Sepp Blatter may take an aloof approach but the embarrassment which this will cause Michel Platini should force the UEFA chief to either reverse his stance on video technology or press ahead with the Europa League experiment of a fifth official behind the goal on a permanent basis.

THIERRY HENRY EXPOSED

The French captain was guilty of an act which many footballers would commit if the chance arose; the Irish players admitted as such. However, it should lead to a welcome revisionism of the 32-year-old's character.

Various reactions to the incident have featured shock with behaviour at odds with the 'cool guy' image which his PR team has carefully presented. Many who have followed his career closely, both in England and France, fail to buy it. Henry has a fan club in the right places, particularly in the UK, because he was always a safe bet to stop and speak to the media once they stuck to his favoured topic; Thierry Henry. His frequent rows with team-mates and manager arise from a precious nature that has manifested itself in his terrible leadership of a fragmented French side.

Those familiar with Henry's posturing fully expect a grovelling apology at some stage in the next week, similar to the insincere regret he expressed while sitting down beside Richard Dunne and telling him that it was an accident. Like the odious Raymond Domenech and his employers who didn't even bother sending a translator to their manager's post match press conference amid farcical scenes, Henry is without class. Did he ever have it?

SWEDISH REFEREES FINISHED

With the worldwide search for a fall-guy ongoing, don't expect to see Martin Hansson or his officials in South Africa next summer. The precedent is there from previous poor decisions. He will miss out on the big gig and FIFA are perceived to have taken a stand.

FAI MAKING THE RIGHT NOISES

Considering they are frequently guilty of shooting themselves in the foot, the FAI has somehow managed to handle this correctly. They had to satisfy their parishioners by launching an appeal while the stance taken by CEO John Delaney in terms of piling the pressure on France rather than FIFA has won him praise in the foreign media.

Ireland's status as the good guys is secured, with the French FA the pantomime unsporting villains.

IRISH TEAM BACK IN PUBLIC AFFECTIONS

Make no mistake about it. After the Staunton era and those dark nights in Cyprus and San Marino, the nation had fallen out of love with its football team. Scenes featuring Irish players in tears and throwing their shirts and boots into the crowd have swung the mood dramatically. Particularly as the Irish psyche is indelibly attracted to the hard luck story.

NO RETIREMENTS

Would a few stars have been tempted to walk away if Ireland had lost convincingly on Wednesday night? It's a matter of debate.

Kevin Kilbane may possibly decide to step away but the sense of injustice should ensure that this group stick together with Trapattoni and give it another go.

RESPECT FOR THE PLAYERS

The real football tragedy of the fall-out is that the best performance by an Irish team many years — arguably the best away from home in their history — has been completely overshadowed by the scandalous conclusion.

The senior stars delivered on their potential while newcomers like Keith Andrews, Liam Lawrence and Sean St Ledger performed with incredible composure.

Eight of the starting XI will be over 33 years of age by the time Brazil 2014 comes around but the quality of this display means the Republic should enter the European Championship campaign with confidence.