Congratulations FIFA, they’ve got the World Cup they wanted now haven’t they, and I hope their proud of how they got it. It was a ridiculous decision to seed the World Cup play-offs in the first place, and ultimately prevent the the hard-work in qualifying of teams like Ukraine, Bosnia and of course the Republic of Ireland. Then there was last night’s controversial goal that rubbed even more salt into wounds.
Let’s get the simple facts of the way, Ireland were robbed last night. Yes they should have taken their chances in the Stade de France, but at the end of the day they wont be at the World Cup next year because of the most blatant handball since Maradona in 86. From a player who you’d expect much better from. France know it, Thierry Henry knows it, and Michel Platini knows it, but none of them will care this morning.
It’s easy to pass the blame on the referee but he couldn’t of called the handball from his position and neither could the linesman, so it’s hard to fault the officials who overall had an excellent game. So blame is purely put at the feet of Mr Va Va Voom. He cheated plain and simple, and as TV replays has shown after the game, Henry admitted himself that to Richard Dunne himself. Not once, but twice his hand controlled that ball to set-up Gallas and how he can now come out publicly and say ‘I didn’t mean it’ is further insult to the Irish, who on the night were the better team.
Of course calls for video evidence will now rear their head again, as well the more simpler extra refs behind the goals – which would of ruled out last night’s incident but nothing is going to make-up for the way Giovanni Trappattoni and his team are feeling this morning. Suggesting a replay will fall on deaf ears too, as it’s not in the rules and FIFA wont be changing them and putting one of their glamour teams at further risk, and in their minds devaluing next summers event.
As for Henry, it’s a dam shame. Here is a player who is viewed in this country as arguably the greatest import the Premier League has ever seen. However his exploits with Arsenal will now be put second when fans recall his career, and will remember this incident first and foremost. When one of the games most respected players conned Ireland out of at least a penalty shoot-out for a place World Cup finals.
Ok yes some will say that Henry was doing what ever he could do, to drag his team to South Africa, and if the boot was on the other foot you wouldn’t care how it happened. But that still doesn’t make it right though does it?
But to FIFA and the bigwigs that all won’t matter, the World Cup they wanted has been assured and who’d now bet against the lucky French from now going all the way, when they wont have deserved to be there in the first place.
