Soccer:France striker Thierry Henry could be banned from the start of the World Cup finals next year after Fifa president Sepp Blatter said his handball against Ireland would be investigated by the sport's world governing body.

If Fifa's Disciplinary Committee rules against Henry, they could impose a match ban that would take effect at the start of the finals in South Africa next June.

Blatter, however, insisted that there was no certainty Henry would be banned. “I have not said that Thierry Henry will be punished, I have said that Thierry Henry will be examined by the disciplinary committee of Fifa,” he said at today’s press conference in Cape Town.

Blatter said players should realise that the eyes of the world will be on them next summer.

“I appeal to all the players and coaches to observe this fair play. In 2010 we want to prove that football is more than just kicking a ball but has social and cultural value,” he added.“So we ask the players ‘please observe fair play’ so they will be an example to the rest of the world.”

Blatter also revealed the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had withdrawn their bid to be included as a 33rd country in the World Cup and apologised for his comments earlier this week suggesting it had not been considered seriously.

“We have received a letter from the FAI withdrawing their demand to be accepted as team number 33.

“I would like to express my regrets to a wrong interpretation of what I said and to the FAI I’m sorry about the headlines going around the world. I have nothing against the Irish, they were very sporting when they came to Fifa.”

Fifa also said there would be no change in the way matches would be officiated at the World Cup next year, with a plan to have two additional referees behind each goal not sanctioned at today's extraordinary meeting of the Fifa executive committee.

Blatter added that Interpol would create a new Task Force to deal with illegal betting in sport and in particular in football.

Earlier today, France missed out on a place among the top eight seeds for Friday’s World Cup draw.

Fifa announced the seeds today based on October’s world rankings, meaning England will join Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina along with host country South Africa.

France are left as the most dangerous floating team who could be drawn in the same group as any one of the top eight seeds.

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke insisted there was no agenda against France.

“In the past the seedings have been determined by a mixture of world rankings and performances in past World Cups but this time the feeling was the October rankings most closely represented the best teams in the tournament," he said.

The draw for the finals, being staged in South Africa next summer, will be made in a 90-minute ceremony starting at 5pm on Friday.

The 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four. Apart from the seeds, teams will be placed in pots which will largely avoid teams from the same continent meeting each other.

Pots for Friday’s draw

Pot 1 (seeds)
South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England.

Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras.

Pot 3 (Africa and South America)
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay.

Pot 4 (Europe)
France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia.