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FIFA & UEFA gloss over Henry handball incident

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FIFA & UEFA gloss over Henry handball incident

2009-11-19 - Added by ExtraFootie

Despite the fact that you can't turn on a TV, computer or radio without its mention, both the FIFA and UEFA websites consider Thierry Henry's blatant handball(s) on Wednesday night small fry.

Henry's juggling act set up former Arsenal team-mate William Gallas' 104th minute equaliser for Les Bleus in the Stade de France, sending Raymond Domenech's men to next year's World Cup at the Republic of Ireland's expense.

And regardless of the fact that France's aggregate victory will forever be remembered for the most conspicuous handball since Maradona in '86, reports of the incident are nowhere to be seen on the two organisations' websites.

FIFA's overview of last night's four European qualifiers makes no mention of the controversy in either of the 'Story of the Game' or 'Key Moment' subsections in its report of the France v Ireland clash.

Meanwhile, UEFA, whose president, curiously enough, just happens to be French legend and possibly the most biased man in football, Michel Platini, goes one better, and fails to acknowledge the volleyball moment in its entire match report!

"After 180 hard-fought minutes, the fate of both teams was decided by a moment of drama in extra time. The outcome remained in the balance until the very last second, and when the final whistle was blown the disappointed Irish could hold their heads up high," reads FIFA.com's 'Key Moment'.

While UEFA.com vaguely describes the moments leading up to Gallas' equaliser as follows:

"And so came extra time where in the eighth minute a hopeful France free-kick found its way to Henry, who squared for Gallas to head the goal that takes his country to South Africa."

So not only have the poor Irish fans been cheated out of their place in the World Cup, they have also been denied the decency of having their case for the injustice of the result acknowledged by the stubborn and blinkered governing bodies.

One thing's for sure...Terry Wogan, Bob Geldof, The Nolans, Seamus Heaney, James Joyce, Louis Walsh, Bertie Ahern, Sinead O'Conner, Bono...your boys took one hell of a cheating! Your boys took one hell of a cheating!

World Cup 2010

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comments (3)

2009-11-19 - Added by Panner1
Supporter of Man Utd

Laughable

I can not believe "Bretty" that you are saying Ireland were not robbed??!?! It was a bloody travesty.

Easy for people like you to say that when you haven't run ur bollocks off for 100 minutes if only to give you a fighting chance of qualifying for a World Cup!

To say France had more shots and better passing is also a joke. Is this April 1st?

France were woeful in possession - the two Diarras - disgusting and as for Gourcuff - a pitiful 'new Zidane' if ever I have seen one.

Henry the cheating b*****d and it was never a penalty - no contact was made!

Jesus I am not even Irish and I am raging. Just must be gut wrenching - a deliberate handball anyway you look at it!! Unjust

However, you are right Ireland should have taken their chances BUT they should have not lost because of a goal like that! NO CHANCE!

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2009-11-19 - Added by Rollyz
Supporter of Arsenal

What, Bretty if you cannot see that Ireland were robbed than you must be either a Frenchman or blind.

Whether or not Ireland should have scored a second is a moot point, the real crime is that Ireland had a goal given against them which should never have stood.

It was a handball of blatant proportions - the same goal decided the contest - that is cheating and injustice -

Use the but-for test - But-for Henry doing that - Ireland would not have been eliminated by cheat - perhaps they would have lost the penalties, but that you cannot assert as a fact

P.S. Anelka dived that's why there was no penalty - and your an Arsenal fan!!!

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2009-11-19 - Added by Bretty
Supporter of Arsenal

What he did was wrong

But I'm getting fed up of people saying Ireland were robbed.

Ireland had not yet qualified. There was still a considerable length of time left of extra time and the game would likely have gone to penalties.

France had more possession, more shots, more corners and better passing.

Ireland had much better chances than France but failed to capitalise time and time again and as the game wore on France looked the better attacking threat. They should have probably had a penalty minutes before the controversial goal when Given and Anelka went 1 on 1, Anelka got past Given and even though contact was minimal there definitely seemed to be contact.

Ireland seemed happy to take the game to penalties come extra time and were made to pay for such a crime. These things happen in football, goals are scored, sometimes controversially and Ireland were unfortunately on the wrong end of luck.

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