Internationals 18 November 2009

[-V-]

Yep, I think scratch should go watch it again lol. Given clearly stops himself from going into anelka

[Shaggy]

Fifa Fair Play Code:

Play fair. Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.

[Reece]

"While St Ledger was critical of Henry for his part in the incident, he did not feel the forward's reputation in the game would suffer.
He added: 'He's said it hit his hand accidentally but if you look at it you can clearly see it hits his hand twice.
'I'm not sure (his reputation) has been tarnished - it doesn't look great but he's got his team to the World Cup finals.
'If it had been one of our team we'd have probably done the same.
'The blame doesn't necessarily fall on him but he's handled it, everyone can see it around the world.'"

In fact I reckon every single one of us would have done the same if it had meant putting our country through to a World Cup finals. I'm not defending Henry by the way, just saying like.

[lickedlollipop]

slovenia

[Scratch]

Yep, I think scratch should go watch it again lol. Given clearly stops himself from going into anelka

No need to watch it again, there is definite contact. Simple really. If it had been Torres going over VdSar, no one would be batting an eyelid.

And the day i listen to the opinion of Graham "3 Yellow Cards" Poll on correct refereeing decisions....

[-V-]

Scratch, if anything Anelka should have been booked for trying to kick Given. It was never a penalty

[Scratch]

Oh, on the handball incident, and Henry...

Liam Brady..."Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it"

When was this? At the full time whistle, or after the goal??

[Le Chef]

Oh, on the handball incident, and Henry...

Liam Brady..."Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it"

When was this? At the full time whistle, or after the goal??

Nah, after the game whilst handing over a brown bag

[Scratch]

Scratch, if anything Anelka should have been booked for trying to kick Given. It was never a penalty

He didn't try to kick Given, he did what every striker does and left his trailing leg there for Given to clatter into, like Liniker did against Cameroon, or Shearer, Fowler...any striker does it. If Given hadn't flung himself out, there would have been no contact, if Given had made contact with the ball, there would have been no penalty...but the events themselves, Ireland were lucky not to concede a penalty. And then were unlucky to concede a goal in the manner they did.

Like i said, if it was one of ours going over an opposition keeper, would we want a penalty...if the answer is yes, then that tells you everything.

[SK]

Fifa Fair Play Code:

Play fair. Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.

When even Fifa don't play fair and cheat into getting "big" teams/players to the WC what's stopping players from trying to do the same...

[-V-]

Not really, If he was one of ours I would want a penalty even if there was no contact

But im not Irish or French so I can see from a neutral perspective. You can't give a penalty just because the goalkeeper slid in for the ball. The fact is that Given stopped himself when he realised he wasn't getting to it and Anelka moved his leg unnaturally towards Given to try to cheat him and make it look like a foul when it wasn't. Its very simple, Given did not commit any offence so its not a penalty

[BJC]

I want to hear Stefan Henchoz interviewed about handling the ball in the penalty area ;-)

[Rich]

The referee couldn't have seen the Henry handball, surely the player was obstructing his view so the decision ultimately has to come down to the linesman that should have seen it. All this bull about Henry telling the Ref he handled the ball, ridiculous. It is a mistake by the linesman nothing more.

Oh and Henry IS a cheat but the stakes are high. What I find vomit inducing is his conduct after the game the Irish players should have told him to **** off.

Can you imagine the scenes if the situation had been reversed? Remember Henry after the Arsenal/Barca Euro final? He's was accusing everybody of cheating?! ******.

[Reece]

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady says the team would be willing to replay their World Cup play-off match against France.

The Republic went out after Thierry Henry handled the ball before squaring for William Gallas to score and give France a 2-1 aggregate victory.

"We would go to Paris and play again," Brady told Radio Five 5 live.

"It will not come to that but we would be willing to go to Paris, on their home ground, and have a fair winner."

Brady did not go so far as to call Henry a cheat but he claimed the offence by the striker was deliberate.

"I asked Thierry Henry after the game and he said 'I handled it but I didn't mean it'," added Brady.

"When you look at the film I think he kept the ball in play and he meant it. I wouldn't go down the road of saying it was cheating, the players seek every advantage they can."

Brady said he was more upset at the fact that Fifa decided to seed the play-off draw when it appeared as though some major European countries may miss out.

The Fifa rankings had Ireland in 34th place, meaning France, Russia, Portugal and Greece were seeded for the two-legged play-off matches.

606: DEBATE
We want fairness and integrity in our sport - there is less and less

neveratruerword

The top four teams were then drawn to face Ireland, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Ukraine and Slovenia.

The former Arsenal midfielder believes world football's governing body sent out a message to officials with the ruling and added to the pressure on them.

"I wouldn't blame Thierry Henry for what went on," said Brady. "I would look at what happened three months before and the fact that the seedings for the play-offs were made to favour the bigger teams like France, Portugal, Germany or Russia.

"I would ask why that went on. The pressure on the referee is enormous then.
Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build up to France's goal
Henry prevented the ball going out of play with his hand

"We'd like to know what went on, why was the draw for the last eight seeded?

"Up to then (the handball) the referee had done his job in a fine fashion but he then succumbed to pressure."

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has joined the furore over French captain Henry's handball by demanding a rematch in the interests of fair play.

"They probably won't grant it as we are minnows in world football but let's put them (Fifa) on the spot," the minister said.

"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.

"Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it.

"Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball - not to mention a double offside - and we should put the powers that be in the cosy world of Fifa on the spot and demand a replay."

[peekay]

Before I start this post, I am not Irish. I am an Indian working in the United States.

I think the entire footballing community is turning its anger on Henry and it is warranted. However, there is another big white elephant in the room. Henry is just another incident in a series of incidents which is threatening to ruin this game. Why has technology not being used until now. Video cameras will help in reducing such incidents. Why is footballing officiating still in the dark ages. Why is the quality of officiating so poor ( beach ball incident - how can the freaking referee be unaware of the rules of the game)?

Every freaking sport in the planet is using technology to help officiating. Why has football not even considered that. Most penalty decisions can be verified in 5-15 seconds. It might add a minute or two to the game. Why are they not even considering it on a trial basis.

The problem with football is that FIFA/FA/UEFA is too arrogant. They think they can do whatever they want and still they will get the money. They dont care about the people who actually care about the game. The truth is that such misplaced arrogance is common place before the fall.

Before the last two years, I could not imagine life without football. Slowly I am seeing my interest wane a little bit. I was watching Texas - Baylor college american football game and once incident really grabbed my attention.

The Baylor defensive unit made a block and made a gesture towards the Texas attack. Immediately a five yard penalty for taunting. Even the Baylor players looked disgusted at the fellow who taunted. Not a peep from the coach or the assistants. And All the commentators said was "it is harsh but rules are rules". If a similar thing was implemented in England I could imagine Andy Grey going "You are destroying Rooney, He is half the player he is if you prevent him from acting like a barbarian c***. It is all part and parcel of the game. The referee does not understand football".