No Logic In France-Ireland Thierry Henry Cheating Debate
Nov 20th, 2009 | By Bock | Category: soccerI heard a pundit on the radio this morning explaining that a replay of the France-Ireland match is impossible because it would disrupt the World Cup schedule, and also the domestic leagues of every country in Europe.
This is true, and it’s unacceptable.
However, it seems to me that this disruption would not have been caused by the Irish football authorities. After all, the Irish team were deprived of a fair result by Henry’s cheating and it seems illogical that the injured party should have to withdraw their protest to avoid causing disruption.
To me, the logical thing would be for the guilty party to forfeit the match, thus avoiding the need for any disruption to World Cup schedules or domestic leagues.
Wouldn’t that be sensible?
Never thought I `d find myself agreeing with Keane. However the first rule all kids are taught in sport is play the whistle. The amount of undignified whinging over the last few days is nothing short of pathetic. NB the discredited ministers joining in. Its no wonder half the country is flooded. As for George Hamiltons commentary I am flabergasted. What a sad effort . Surely after such a vitriolic attack on any individual (in this case Henry) his position as an employee in a public service broadcaster is no longer tenable!
So in your experience, playing the whistle comes before playing the game, is that correct?
Ah Jayzus, Bock! It’s only a game. Take a chill pill [as they say]
Everything is a game, as you know.
At your age you shouldn’t be getting so worked up about these trivial matters. It’s bad for the ticker. Take an extra Prozac with your Horlicks and relax.
So much for the “beautiful game”
200 Europe wide games under investigation in massive match-fixing scam by German police and Europol.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8370748.stm
As for Roy da Boy-you. Thought he had other things on his mind these days rather than revisiting his beloved FAI, such as getting his one win out of 16 starts Ipswich team away from the arse end of Divivion 2B or whatever it is.
People seem to forget that sport mirrors life in nearly all its aspects. There are rules and there are the values and morals that the individual brings to the sport. I think sport, especially “soccer” reflects the way we set about our lives in the west today. If you can get away with robbing the tax payer…..play to the whistle. If the Government have an opportunity to steal from its citizens…play to the whistle, If the Banks can get away with stealing the funds from their own banking system…. play to the whistle etc, etc. This man was representing/Captaining his nations football team and he cheated, and some say this is OK? There was no whistle, its the refs fault! What really annoyed me was the way he went and sat with Dunne and told him he did not mean it, and knowing that every camera in the place would be on him, he blatantly used this opportunity to give Dunne a hug, why? because he hoped it would make him out to be some sort of sporting hero……The whistle has blown now Theirry, you have shown your true colours, and let down the vast majority of your fellow French citizens who still believe in the values of fair play ,in the way they live their lives, and the way they play their sports.
Logically, the William Gallas goal from the illegal Thierry Henry assist didn’t knock us out of the World Cup; it merely denied us the opportunity to take part in the post-match penalty shootout. Obviously, that goal changed the way both teams played for the rest of the match, but no more goals were scored after that. Therefore, if that goal was voided the match would have gone to penalties. Therefore, wouldn’t it be a better idea to get both teams back to Paris for just the penalty shootout? That shouldn’t disrupt the fixture list too much & the players wouldn’t have to play another 90 or 120 minutes. Perhaps this idea is too logical for FIFA.
By the way, Bock, playing the whistle IS playing the game. The players should never wait for a whistle that may never come. As we saw last Wednesday, the referee didn’t blow up (although I’m sure many Irish wish that Thierry Henry had). The defenders should watch the opposition, clear the ball & keep their concentration until the ball has gone out of play. Then, it wouldn’t matter if the referee spotted an infringement or not.
Henry should be made an offer. The President of Ireland job is coming up soon. It would suit Henry very well. The cheating and corruption in Irish politics would make him feel right at home!
The rules as they stood last wednesday didn’t allow for limited use of video-technology and the net result for this is that Ireland are out of the World Cup. It is unfair and unfortunate. Let us address the situation and move on: surely the use of video evidence cannot be denied when the consequences of this game are weighed-up?
Another thing, who really knows what Henry was thinking in the heat-of-the-moment? Does the existence of video evidence prove exclusively that he was intentionally cheating? What cannot be denied is that his reaction to getting away with it and the general post-goal celebrations reflected poorly on Henry and any of the other French players that realised that he had handled the ball. Henry has come out and made a public statement that goes a long way to restoring his credibility and has been welcomed by Robbie Keane on behalf of the Irish team.
What is undoubtedly odious is the reaction of the football heirarchy who had the time to reflect on the evidence to hand and who are responsible in putting the framework in place that preserves some integrity in the game. Every statement that I have read eminating from these sources reveals the contempt they have for the fans and any sense of real fairness in the game. According to these institutions fairness seems to be a concept that is only applicable when addressing a situation in favour the of established elite clubs and international associations.
A lot of the commentary illustrates that once again many have lost sight of who is really accountable before accusations of fostering a cheating culture within the game. Who manipulate the rules, fixture list, seeding and any other aspect of the game to favour powerful clubs and international teams.? It happens in the game in the heat of the moment, and undoubtedly there is evidence of increased cynicism and nastiness cleeping in at all levels. Even though this needs to be addressed, the rule makers are highly selective in the manner in which they are seen to address the games short-comings. The double standards are evident everywhere. We have seen evidence of this increasingly over the last number of years, and outbursts of animosity and hatred at the fan level hampers efforts among those who love the game in demanding fairness and transparency, or some semblance of it, in light of the overwhelming pressures that money now undoubtedly plays in skewing the playing field. No matter what one’s allegiences might be, any objective analysis of last season’s Champions League semi-final would surely conclude that Chelsea should have been in last years Champions League Final, and the inexcusable but understandable reactions of some of their players served as a smoke-screen for this and deflected from the highly articulate, stony silence from UEFA. Ireland should and probably would have been in the World Cup Finals. In both these cases the video evidence shows that something is seriously amiss in the sport and urgently needs to be addressed to salvage some integrity for the game as it is played at this level. It is clear that Blatter/Platini et al hate “up-starts”, and clubs that find thenselves being hit hard and international teams such as Ireland will always be “upstarts” in their eyes.
If the aftermath of this situation does nothing else, it is illustrating the kind of power-structure that governs European and global football. If we wait for them to take the lead in this don’t hold your breath though and heaven-help any romantics out there, God help us… If they respond at all, it will probably be in response to overwhelming political pressure and as such will be transparent for what it is: cynical, opportunistic and money-driven.
Actually… Bock is right. Stop with the silly fucking comments and consider the logic. Forfeit would be the only fair thing the powers that be could do to resolve this scenario.
Will it happen? No… but that’s not the point here.
Backhander
I don’t accept the “play the whistle” argument here. If Henry had not handled it and managed to cross it, it wouldn’t have been one you would expect Given to save. And also, while McShane could have attacked the ball more aggresively the point here is that the ball would have been out had it not been for the handball.
By the way. I was in the Stad De France and the security staff aggressivly man handled us out of there after the game. As if we hadn’t been insulted enough. I am surprised this isn’t a bigger story because I saw them get seriously ruff with some lads.
All men are cheating bastards didn’t ye already know that.
After FIFA had ruled out any possibility of a replay M. Thierry Henry comes out with the suggestion of a replay! A once great player now seen globally as a cheating prick.
Audrey you are a credit to your sex.
It was inevitable that France would go through at the cost of Ireland; but Imagine what France would have done if Ireland had cheated! Possibly invaded Ireland!
A pox on the Frence!
The referee is the final arbitor wether we like it or not. I do unlike Roy Keane believe that the Irish team played to the limit of their abilities and should be congratulated on their effort. Those who can recall the famous Maradona “hand of god” and the ridiculous never ending brit whingefest that followed should beware. Unless we stop the incessant bleating we will become true life reflections of our whinging pom neighbours.
Replay wont happen. If it did how many games with dubious decisions would have to be replayed every weekend? We lost unfair and square.
Bravo to Shawn de Leer for an articulate and well-written post that makes some extremely good points. Incessant cheating in football is not simply the fault of players, match officials, teams or national associations. FIFA has allowed this form of gamesmanship to get out of hand over the last few decades. If FIFA don’t do something now, players will keep cheating because the punishment is so meagre and the rewards are so great. If Henry’s handball does anything, hopefully it will force FIFA into eradicating cheating from the sport by bringing in tougher punishments for players who deliberately break the rules. If they are serious about their Fair Play Campaign they must hand out a heavy fine and lenghty ban to the captain of the French football team. If they allow Thierry Henry to get away scot-free then they may as well throw the Fair Play Campaign down the toilet.
Wonderful how all the french players and admin decided it would be best to replay the game but the manager had the final say and said no.
or to put it another way there’s no way the french are going to replay the game but rather then be seen for the bunch of arrogant pricks they are they get the manager – the man who’ll be gone next year – to put his hand up as the bad guy.
Mon deui, we wanted to play the game again, even Thierry, but the manager, the prick, said no. What can we do…? He said no. We really wanted to play it. Honestly, but that prick said no. We’re just the french football administration – he’s the manager. What could we do.
Fuck.
I didn’t know that the coach had the final decision over the heads of the FFF. Does that mean they can’t ever sack him because he can veto all their decisions?
For France to forfeit would be the most logical and honorable thing to do but its not going to happen.
The least Fifa could do now is to take Henry out of circulation in regards to South Africa, he should not be allowed to attend the event.
This whole shebang marks another rung in our descent to third world status.
Marching on the French embassy – Jesus wept and I drank.
The Herald wheels out its soaks to call for boycotts.
Let’s skip the nonsense and go straight to the El Salvador/ Honduran option.
It’s war baby and I’m scared.
http://www.jeu-de-main.com/ cool game.
cool game –
http://www.jeu-de-main.com/
france are a cheating team but they will not win and they will get slagged and embaresd
Are we still banging on about this? France won the game by cheating; s what’s new?
But don’t for a moment think that the French will be embarrassed about this!
Ireland may feel robbed, and even hurt, but the French are devoid of such feelings of guilt!
Soccer is a game of cheating. Every time a player throws themselves on the ground to ‘milk’ a penalty it’s cheating. And that’s been going on to the great disgrace of the game for decades. It’s so pathetic I haven’t watched soccer for years. So don’t belabor one cheat unless you want to cast the net over all the other soccer players who regularly cheat.