The meeting will take place in Cape Town, two days before the draw for the World Cup finals.

The Henry handball incident left football's reputation - at least as regards the standards of refereeing - in tatters after it effectively cheated Ireland out of a place at the World Cup.

France beat the Irish 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of a qualifying play-off last week but Henry's double handball, which led to their equalizer on the night, proved decisive.

Fifa last week however ruled they would not bow to the Football Association of Ireland's formal request for a replay of the second leg.

Reacting to the announcement of the Fifa meeting, the FAI said: "Should we be asked to make any contribution, the FAI would be happy to do so for the improvement of the game."

Trouble surrounding the Algeria-Egypt qualifier on November 14 in Cairo and the subsequent play-off in Khartoum four days later could also be on the agenda. Egypt recalled their ambassador in Algiers after Algeria won the play-off 1-0 to qualify.

European football, meanwhile, is reportedly harboring an organized criminal gang that has made millions of euros by betting in Asian markets on the outcomes of matches they helped decide.

Police last week raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band that has bribed players, referees and coaches in nine countries.

Uefa have called a crisis meeting for today amid reports that around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria are under suspicion.

In Italy, police have arrested nine people - including the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione, and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista - over bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions between 2007 and 2009. Swedish referee Martin Hansson, who failed to spot Henry's handball, said the incident made him consider quitting. "It was an unfortunate event that had big consequences for Ireland, but it wasn't the fault of the refereeing team," he told Sydostran newspaper. Hansson is due to return to refereeing in the Champions League on December 8 or 9.

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