Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The World Cup field is set after a series of matches yesterday, none more anticipated than Ireland and France playing for one of the final spots in the tournament. The fact that with a loss on Wednesday, France – the 1998 winner and 2006 runner-up – would be watching from home is nearly unimaginable. Well, thanks to French superstar Thierry Henry, we don't have to worry about that. Let's give the guy a hand for some quick thinking…
And this was in extra time. The header by William Gallas tied the game, but put France ahead on aggregate and into the World Cup. It's one of the most blatant handballs in the history of the sport and has already been compared to Mardaona's Hand of God goal in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. It's not an overstatement to say that Henry's handball could change the course of soccer around the world, forever. It's so amazing and egregious an oversight by the referee and linesmen that, undoubtedly, policy will be changing for FIFA some time soon. How long will it take for Ireland to recover? From the Times Online, word comes that Ireland is demanding a rematch.
The Irish Justice Minister demanded a rematch today after a blatant Thierry Henry handball put France into the finals of the World Cup.Henry admitted he cheated – how could he not when the entire world saw him do it – but you really can't fault him for trying. Obviously he was just hoping to keep the ball from going out of play and likely never expected the play to be allowed to continue. This is why you always play until you hear the whistle, right? I can tell you that when I was younger (on a much smaller stage, obviously) I had a ball crossed in to me in front of the net, and as it was almost bouncing past, I redirected it into the goal with my hand. The newspaper report – supplied by my coach, by the way – called it a 'creative' goal. Let's chalk this one up to one creative assist.Dermot Ahern, a passionate football fan, called for the sport's world governing body, Fifa, to be called to account in the interests of fair play.
"They probably won’t grant it as we are minnows in world football but let’s put them on the spot," said Mr Ahern, the former Irish foreign minister.
"It’s the least we owe the thousands of devastated young fans around the country. Otherwise, if that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat, you will win."
The point is, anyone would have done what Henry did, big stage or small ... no matter what some brash former Irish footballers might say.
The debate about this outcome will go on for decades. Whatever good will there was between the two nations has surely turned ill at the hand of Henry. Controversy always swirls around the world's biggest sporting event, but with this as the official lead in to next summer's World Cup, we should get prepared for anything.
For now, vive la France? Zut alors.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
7 comments
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
Scoreboard data copyright © 2012 by STATS LLC. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC is strictly prohibited.
OpenCalais - Powered by Thomson Reuters
•
Odds Shark 
Comments
Thierry Henry has admitted to the handball, but has made out that it was unintentional. The second touch is as deliberate as it gets. He openly celebrated the goal and their advancing to the World Cup. Long may he be remembered for this.
For Henry to commit the foul and for the officlas to miss it, I think, is a crowning moment of embarassment for the sport. I think it is indeed time to introduce video refereeing with a two challenge system for the managers. More officals on the pitch won’t cut it.
Henry famously appears in an ad for Gilette with Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. Both sports have tv monitoring, yet in both sports these stars admit to fouls they have commited.
Events such as this and the introduction of seeding at the of qualification reeks of shenanigans. Integrity has to be restored to Soccer, if this has to be done by ramming it down their throats, then so be it. The game of diving, cheating and feigning injury certainly must end.
by gilga on Nov 19, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions
"Let’s chalk this one up to one creative assist."
Or cheating. I don’t really blame Henry, it was instinctual. The blame lies with the referee, who told one of the Irishmen that "I can 100 percent say it wasn’t handball." The linesman also deserves scorn since he had an unblocked view of the two handball infractions and missed the active offsides two seconds earlier. They’re both cowards.
If FIFA was interested in a legitimate outcome, a replay in Paris should be in order. Precedent exists: FIFA ordered a replay of a 2006 WCQ between Uzbekistan and Bahrain after some egregious officiating.
Alas, France is not Uzbekistan and that will never happen. Ireland’s coach can even see that.
by CBass3 on Nov 19, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions
Reason #163 why soccer is a joke for a sport. The officials have too much power in the game and FIFA makes the NCAA, MLB, and NFL look like a bunch of amateurs when it comes to capricious rulemaking.
by Ark_Razor on Nov 19, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions
I didn’t realize the Major League Baseball playoff umpires also worked at World Cup qualifying matches. Who knew?
by zamboni77 on Nov 19, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions
Refs really suck nowadays…I wanna change career paths and be a ref just because of all this nonsense in FIFA, MLB, NFL, NBA and the NCAAs…
Sheesh!
by DContheRise on Nov 19, 2009 5:04 PM EST reply actions
I love soccer, never played it, but with FSC have really watched a lot over the last 4-5 years. One glaring issue though with soccer is the officiating, which at times can make the NBA and MLB competent looking. Also, in international competition certain countries seem to get some onesided calls. The Ireland/France game isn’t any more on the rocks than the World Cup match between Australia and Italy, in which Italy tied the game on a sham penalty goal kick earned on a flop. Sports in general need to clean up the officiating and umpiring, or people wearing stripes/black or going to start getting trounced.
by Over43 on Nov 19, 2009 5:24 PM EST reply actions
Over43: That call in the Australia-Italy match actually gave Italy the win. They scored and there was no time left on the clock.
by dblank.tsn on Nov 19, 2009 8:13 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed