Ged says Henry should not be punished

[Guest]

And I think he's right. It was the referee's error, IMO.

BBC SPORT
Houllier launches Henry defence

Former France and Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier does not want Fifa to punish Frenchman Thierry Henry for a handball against the Republic of Ireland.

Fifa's executive committee will meet on Wednesday to consider the incident as part of a disciplinary crackdown.

The Republic failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, losing on aggregate to an extra-time goal, courtesy of the assist by Barcelona striker Henry.

Houllier told BBC Radio 5 live: "He didn't cheat. It was instinctive."

The 62-year-old, currently technical director at the French football federation, added of his compatriot: "A lot of the former players in France have condemned what Thierry has done but, at the same time, they said they would have done the same.

"He didn't cross the ball with his hand, he put the ball in on his foot. It's the referee's error.

Chelski-4-life

"I'm not saying he did something right but he did something that sometimes, when you play football, you do to help you but, on the back of that, you expect the referee to punish you."

Houllier, who won five trophies over six seasons with Liverpool before losing his job in 2004, helped set up France's ground-breaking training centre at Clairefontaine, which nurtured the likes of Henry and Chelsea's Nicholas Anelka.

"Thierry is too honest a person to have done this immorally. It was not premeditated," said Houllier.

"I don't think he'll be punished and even if the goal had not been allowed, they would not have qualified. It would have gone to penalties."

The striker twice handled the ball before crossing to William Gallas, who scored the equaliser against the Republic in the play-off in November to put France into next year's finals.

Sepp Blatter, the president of football's world governing body, will ask the committee whether Henry should face sanctions but it is not known what punishments could be handed out, although a lengthy ban is possible.

On the back of the furore caused by the incident, Blatter has said goal-line technology and extra referees would be considered for the finals in South Africa.

If they recommend the proposal it will go before football's rule-making international board in Zurich in March for a final decision.

At the meeting in Cape Town, Fifa will also consider the Republic's request for a place in the finals as an extra team.

But Blatter has said that Costa Rica, who also believe they were unfairly denied a place in the finals - this time because of an offside goal from Uruguay - would also have to be acknowledged if extra places are discussed.
Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8388335.stm

Published: 2009/12/01 13:22:59 GMT

© BBC MMIX

[saj]

And I think he's right. It was the referee's error, IMO.

It was the referee's the fault. Players do what they do - it's up to the referee to deem whether what they do is fair or not. If the referee never saw it then **** happens. What happened is no different to a player diving to win a penalty or kicking the **** out of an opposition player.

[Guest]

It was the referee's the fault. Players do what they do - it's up to the referee to deem whether what they do is fair or not. If the referee never saw it then **** happens. What happened is no different to a player diving to win a penalty or kicking the **** out of an opposition player.

Ged has it spot on, he said that it was 'instinctive'.

[anfieldanfield]

Of course he should not be punished.

[Baracus]

I said in the international thread, once the dust has settled, he'll still be a legend

[anfieldanfield]

I said in the international thread, once the dust has settled, he'll still be a legend

At his peak he was the best footballer in the world.

[-V-]

As if. Henry knew what he was doing, he blatantly cheated and he did it on the biggest stage. He isn't a legend, he's just another talented footballer who cheats.

If say Diouf had done what he done then he would have been crucified and everyone would want him punished but Henry gets away with it because of his previous reputation

[Baracus]

At his peak he was the best footballer in the world.

I agree, I wish people would grow up. Its not like the people casting the stones are clean as a whistle.

[Guest]

As if. Henry knew what he was doing, he blatantly cheated and he did it on the biggest stage. He isn't a legend, he's just another talented footballer who cheats.

If say Diouf had done what he done then he would have been crucified and everyone would want him punished but Henry gets away with it because of his previous reputation

It was instinctive but I guess we'll never know for sure. Still it was the referee's responsibility to spot it and act, not Henry.

He's been honest enough to admit after the match that it was a handball, some players wouldn't have done it, for example I doubt that scumbag Diouf (who takes pleasure in spitting in people's faces) would have done it.

Henry is a great footballer and even though his reputation would have had nothing to do if he had cheated in a football match, I think this event and the fact that he had the courage to admit he handled the ball, emphasises that he's indeed a true sportsman,

[Baracus]

It was instinctive but I guess we'll never know for sure. Still it was the referee's responsibility to spot it and act, not Henry.

He's been honest enough to admit after the match that it was a handball, some players wouldn't have done it, for example I doubt that scumbag Diouf (who takes pleasure in spitting in people's faces) would have done it.

Henry is a great footballer and even though his reputation would have had nothing to do if he had cheated in a football match, I think this event and the fact that he had the courage to admit he handled the ball, emphasises that he's indeed a true sportsman,

But they have a stupid counter argument, he should have admitted the incident in game, like Vermaelen at Arsenal grabbing Terry, he should have admitted he grabbed him and allowed the referee to give a penalty against him in the game

[Guest]

But they have a stupid counter argument, he should have admitted the incident in game, like Vermaelen at Arsenal grabbing Terry, he should have admitted he grabbed him and allowed the referee to give a penalty against him in the game

You're right but I think he should have done this before the game, would have made him the more credible.

[FatTony]

whether it was instinctive or not, he didn't raise the point with the ref did he? he just ran off with his arms in the air celebrating so in my book he is a cheating git. Remember Fowler and the penalty that wasn't?

[Tee]

Henry is well **** in PES2010 though.

[SK]

i've read a comment by a former referee, saying the ref in that game made the mistake in not consulting with the linesman as he saw the reaction of the irish players. when something like that happens, the ref should delay allowing the goal, go to his assistants, and ask them what happend(if he's not in an ideal position to see for himself), and then act on that.

[DannyMan2006]

Henry clearly cheated but he's still a legend in the modern era. Maradona cheated on the biggest stage of all but he's still (IMO and many others) the greatest footballer that ever lived, and i can still say this despite hating the cheating ****.

If I was an Ireland fan I'd be majorly pissed off because it was blatant cheating, but he's not the first and he'll not be the last. I'm not sure there is any footballer out there who wouldn't dive or handball for a goal if he thought he could get away with it.