Football. France V Ireland and the hand-ball.

Ireland today is in a state of mourning after our team were robbed of the chance of securing a place in the World Cup Soccer finals in South Africa next year. A controversial goal by the French has started what now looks like an international furore as soccer fans all the world over vent their anger at the French forward Thiery Henri. The ball was handled by Henri prior to him crossing it to a fellow player who knocked it into the net. The hand ball incident was clear for all to see , except the referee and linesmen. The TV replay is now being shown all over the sporting world and Henri has openly admitted that he did handle the ball. Ireland are now asking FIFA, the governing body for world football to stage a replay. Ireland have also asked the French to agree to the same as the whole business of fair play in sport has been something they all have been trying to promote. If the French go to the World Cup as a result of a player cheating the referee it will not do a lot for the game and it certainly will not do a lot for the good name of French football. Henri was always one of my favourite players but he has done himself a lot of damage by this silly act. The consequences are huge and the dreams of many players and fans in this country lie in tatters. Having a play-off, even if we are beaten in that, would not leave us with this bad taste in our mouths and it would do the image of the game a lot of good. I genuinely believe that Henri regrets what happened but he did purposely handle the ball and he will have to live with that. In recent years the French teams have added a lot to international football. They did it by playing lovely attractive and honest football. Now have they the decency to hold their hands up and offer football fans everywhere a chance to see a team worthy of their place in the finals progressing to the next stage. I hope that they do. Then i can put Henri and his team back up on my list of great footballing nations where they have been for many years.