Football : Season 2009/2010

[Niles Crane]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

Are you saying it's ok for a player to cheat, as long as it's in a big game?

I'm suprised people are sticking up for him, but on the other hand it doesn't suprise me those people are Arsenal fans. I wonder what their reactions would be if it was Ronaldo in Henry's position?

I'm not saying that in the slightest. Understanding and sympathy doesn't equate to condoning.

I'm not a hypocrite and i don't get caught up knee jerk hysteria or scape goatting. Despite my massive dislike for Ronaldo i was the first pointing out the ridiculous hysteria, hypocrisy and stupidity surrounding the winking saga at the last WC. Same as i was doing last week with the Drogba/Evans incident, despite as you correctly pointed out, supporting Arsenal.

It doesn't surprise me the people castigating him aren't Arsenal fans, or France fans, or putting the situation in context, or considering what it would be like if the shoe was on the other foot.

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by Damien

Sorry, Meant England. Not Wales and Scotland, who have something in common with Ireland now. They are not going to the World Cup

Touche. Only got 31 teams to support now

[SB_07]

Just seen a link to a 'anti-henry' group on FB which already has 12,000 members, alot of racist comments on there

[Niles Crane]

Originally Posted by SB_07

Just seen a link to a 'anti-henry' group on FB which already has 12,000 members, alot of racist comments on there

Inevitable. Like i said earlier; situations like this are like a wet dream for bigots. This is a double whammy too; he's black and he's French. Jackpot!

[punky]

Hey Bobby, what's the french for 'cheating *******'?

I am worried England won't be able to win the World Cup though. Obviously there are all these cheating foreigners and since English players are fundamentally honest we won't win these decisions

---------- Post added at 08:40 ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 ----------

Anyway Henry admitted he handballed it. Apparently he did so to Dunn as well which is why they seemed to be, surprising, getting on after the final whistle.

---------- Post added at 08:42 ---------- Previous post was at 08:40 ----------

Incidentally give credit to the Irish team for how well they handled, no pun intended, it after the game.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Niles Crane

Inevitable. Like i said earlier; situations like this are like a wet dream for bigots. This is a double whammy too; he's black and he's French. Jackpot!

Triple whammy surely, he's also a unscrupulous, cheating git.

---------- Post added at 09:26 ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 ----------

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

Are you saying it's ok for a player to cheat, as long as it's in a big game?

I'm suprised people are sticking up for him, but on the other hand it doesn't suprise me those people are Arsenal fans. I wonder what their reactions would be if it was Ronaldo in Henry's position?

I'm not surprised tbh some people have no shame what he did was wrong and he is now deservedly getting criticised for it, all this nonsense about what if it was an Englishman is crap to, we'd never hear the end of it, vilified for a generation.

Ireland asking for a replay, although I don't see that happening to be honest.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Fifa should ban Henry for the next 3 competitive internationals. They go on about fair play and respect, so let's see them administer a punishment like they would do so if he had stamped on someone and not been spotted by the ref.

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Fifa should ban Henry for the next 3 competitive internationals. They go on about fair play and respect, so let's see them administer a punishment like they would do so if he had stamped on someone and not been spotted by the ref.

Well it's not the same as if he stamped on someone. There was no violence there, he handled the ball, and it's not a fair comparison.

The match ban, or a rematch, opens a can of worms because then what about other times when a rule of the game is broken leading to an unfair goal? I think video replays are better because this kind of thing won't be eradicated otherwise, it's not the first time a player has attempted to control a difficult ball with their hands.

By the way it's been reported as if qualification was a sure thing until that goal. France had regained a foothole in the match after Keane missed that one on one chance. They barely featured in the last 10 minutes and in extra time. Also, before than goal Ireland needed 1 goal to go though, afterwards they needed one goal to go though. Henry's handball meant it didn't get to penalties is all. It was a con, very unfair, but it's not as if Ireland had it in the bag.

[Niles Crane]

Originally Posted by Damien

Ireland asking for a replay, although I don't see that happening to be honest.

A WC 2006 qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain was replayed due to an incorrect refereeing decision a few years ago - at FIFA's own order.

A replay is unlikely, but it's possible, and bearing in mind the above match perhaps it definitely should happen. The draw is on 4th December, so they'd need to get a move on.

Also, do you remember the Arsenal vs Sheffield United FA Cup replay due to Kanu's misunderstanding?

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by Niles Crane

A WC 2006 qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain was replayed due to an incorrect refereeing decision a few years ago - at FIFA's own order.

A replay is unlikely, but it's possible, and bearing in mind the above match perhaps it definitely should happen. The draw is on 4th December, so they'd need to get a move on.

Also, do you remember the Arsenal vs Sheffield United FA Cup replay due to Kanu's misunderstanding?

But they're different to what happened last night. If they're going to replay because of a handball, i want them to replay the United v Chelsea match because the goal shouldn't have stood. I can think of about a dozen games this season where a team lost because of a dodgy goal. I know the Irish are annoyed but it's a bit embarrasing that they're asking for the game to be replayed imo.

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

But they're different to what happened last night. If they're going to replay because of a handball, i want them to replay the United v Chelsea match because the goal shouldn't have stood. I can think of about a dozen games this season where a team lost because of a dodgy goal. I know the Irish are annoyed but it's a bit embarrasing that they're asking for the game to be replayed imo.

Well exactly. I was thinking about the Ashley Cole Dive. It's was not a cheat that caused the goal to go in, but it did lead to a goal. Like last night, it was a cheat to control the ball which lead to the pass. It's not as if he did the actual hand of god thing.

The thing is one dodgy goal is always something in football. We need video (come on FIFA) so the incidents like this which are in-your-face blatent handballs like that are caught. However we can't have rematches based on dodgy goals.

[Niles Crane]

What you've both said is true, but this wasn't 1 game of a 50 match season. This is never going to "equal itself out throughout the course of a season". It's literally once in a lifetime. The magnitude of this match outweighs the examples you've given, in every sense. For that reason i can understand FAI's replay request.

The Uzbekistan/Bahrain example is only different in the type of mistake by the referee(s). It's essentially the same scenario - a mistake made which may well have changed the outcome of the tie.

[Pog66]

Originally Posted by Niles Crane

The Uzbekistan/Bahrain example is only different in the type of mistake by the referee(s). It's essentially the same scenario - a mistake made which may well have changed the outcome of the tie.

There's a slight difference between a referee not knowing the rules (e.g Bahrain eg above) and missing something on the pitch.

FIFA have stated now the game will not be replayed