The FAI yesterday effectively conceded defeat in its attempt to get the French Football Federation to agree to replay the crucial World Cup qualifier following Thierry Henry's controversial handball before the decisive French goal last Wednesday.

The likelihood of a replay is now virtually nil after the FAI chief executive John Delaney said: "We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a worldwide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation.

"Without doubt, the credibility of fair play has been damaged by this incident in front of a worldwide audience. Despite our deep disappointment, we thank our players, the wonderful Irish fans and the Irish public at large for their support, as well as the solidarity of the French people. We will continue to call on Fifa [soccer's world governing body] to take action to ensure that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to recur."

Despite the unprecedented outcry following Henry's decisive injury-time assist, around 250 Irish fans attended a protest outside the French embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, yesterday afternoon.

The protest, which was overseen by a heavy garda presence, went from Lansdowne Road to the French embassy and passed off peacefully.

"This is not a joke, I think that football has been waiting for years for something like this to happen," said Ben Finnegan (19) from Maynooth, Co Kildare, who took part in the protest. "Law 5 is what [Fifa] is standing by but every other law is about fair play and justice. It's just not right."

Another protester, 19-year-old Fionnan O'Sullivan from Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, said: "The game didn't end in a fair way and that should be a fundamental aspect of the game. That is why we came here. I would think a replay is unlikely but there is hope. At the minimum I would hope for a video ref."

The illegally-assisted William Gallas goal, which secured France's place at the World Cup in South Africa next summer, prompted a diplomatic row.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and justice minister Dermot Ahern both called for the tie to be replayed. This led to French prime minister François Fillon saying that politicians should not interfere in footballing matters.