Henry is a farking disgrace for that. I feel bad for the Irish, they were cheated out of a chance.

Golly.

TonnageVT: Henry is a farking disgrace for that.

Well it's not like he can say "nah it doesn't count, disallow it". It's not tennis, where gentlemen actually can overrule a referee.

IAmRight: TonnageVT: Henry is a farking disgrace for that.

Well it's not like he can say "nah it doesn't count, disallow it". It's not tennis, where gentlemen actually can overrule a referee.

I think he meant more along the lines of actually cradling the ball rather than him wanting him to overturn it.

It's the action, not whether or not he wants redemption.

/always been a fan of Henry, but to have four years of hard work wiped out by that is a disgrace.

TonnageVT: Henry is a farking disgrace for that. I feel bad for the Irish, they were cheated out of a chance.

Soccer players cheat constantly. I think I'd take a handball over diving.

TonnageVT: Henry is a farking disgrace for that. I feel bad for the Irish, they were cheated out of a chance.

It's not Henry's fault the ref didn't do his job. As was said in the article, he knew it was a handball. One of the Irish players said that there's no way he could have expected to get away with it. The Irish coach said that had Henry been asked, he probably would have told the ref the truth. Etc etc.

I'm sure that's not how he wants to win.

That said, what a disgrace.

Every soccer player in the world would've played the ball in the same way Henry did. The fault lies with the ref for not calling an obvious handball.

Lifeless: Every soccer player in the world would've played the ball in the same way Henry did. The fault lies with the ref for not calling an obvious handball.

uhh wat

I don't really see how it was a double hand ball. Not that that is relevant at all, but I just kept hearing it called that.

Inexcusable. Absolute horseshiat. Nothing really to add except more fist-clenching anger.

Bill Frist: I don't really see how it was a double hand ball. Not that that is relevant at all, but I just kept hearing it called that.

When it came in, it his his arm past the elbow. Inadvertent hand ball.
Then, he cradled it with his hand as for it not to go out. Intentional hand ball.

Billy Crystal Meth Lab: Lifeless: Every soccer player in the world would've played the ball in the same way Henry did. The fault lies with the ref for not calling an obvious handball.

uhh wat

FTA:

Striker Kevin Doyle raged: "It is sickening. I am sure Henry did not expect to get away with it because it was so obvious.

"The linesman had the best view, apart from Shay Given.

"It is difficult. We are all gutted. You do not blame the player if he can get away with it. It's nearly a natural reaction."

Billy Crystal Meth Lab: Bill Frist: I don't really see how it was a double hand ball. Not that that is relevant at all, but I just kept hearing it called that.

When it came in, it his his arm past the elbow. Inadvertent hand ball.
Then, he cradled it with his hand as for it not to go out. Intentional hand ball.

ah I guess so. they both happen like a milisecond from each other so it seems part of the same move to me. but like I said, not really relevant I guess.

Bill Frist: Billy Crystal Meth Lab: Lifeless: Every soccer player in the world would've played the ball in the same way Henry did. The fault lies with the ref for not calling an obvious handball.

uhh wat

FTA:

Striker Kevin Doyle raged: "It is sickening. I am sure Henry did not expect to get away with it because it was so obvious.

"The linesman had the best view, apart from Shay Given.

"It is difficult. We are all gutted. You do not blame the player if he can get away with it. It's nearly a natural reaction."

I guess my argument is that it didn't appear to be a natural reaction.

/Got a handball once, so I'm getting a kick, yada yada

desperate times require desperate measures. happens all the time in the box. Ref or assistant should have picked it up. Will be revealing to see what Platini has to say. He was quick to condemn other cheats. so lets see if he condemns his countryman..

/roy keane would have kicked his ass all the way to barcelona

FTFA: "I played it, the ref allowed it. It would have been better to do it another way, but I am not the ref."

It's sad that sportsmanship is now reduced to "hey, the ref didn't see it, so it's OK to cheat." The French cheated the Irish out of a World Cup presence.

Thierry Henry should be ashamed of himself; his team certainly should be ashamed of him, as his cheating will overshadow their World Cup performance.

FormlessOne: The French cheated the Irish out of a World Cup presence.

Its fine to be mad at Henry, but the Irish do not automatically go to the WC if that goal isn't allowed. France still has time to score and if not it goes to penalty kicks.

if you aren't cheating blatantly then you aren't cheating right

falcon176: if you aren't cheating blatantly then you aren't cheating right


Approves.

falcon176: if you aren't cheating blatantly then you aren't cheating right


Also would approve of this message.

Fark France and fark FIFA

hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

Its called you don't put your players on the field until there is a satisfactory explanation by the ref. Seriously, 'I couldn't see it' is not a legitimate excuse.

TonnageVT: Henry is a farking disgrace for that. I feel bad for the Irish, they were cheated out of a chance.

Of course if he was English he would be clever. Like when Rooney and Gerrard cheat.

Video

It's pretty obvious that it was an intentional handball and half the Irish team saw it up close. They have every right to be pissed.

What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

RminusQ: What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

once the ball is played with players behind the defense, that is what is called offside.

What_Would_Jimi_Do: RminusQ: What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

once the ball is played with players behind the defense, that is what is called offside.

Squillaci was offside but Henry wasn't. RminusQ is right in how he interprets the offside rule.

Halli: What_Would_Jimi_Do: RminusQ: What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

once the ball is played with players behind the defense, that is what is called offside.

Squillaci was offside but Henry wasn't. RminusQ is right in how he interprets the offside rule.

any player offside, is offside? right

What_Would_Jimi_Do: any player offside, is offside? right

Not unless he interferes with the run of play.

What_Would_Jimi_Do: Halli: What_Would_Jimi_Do: RminusQ: What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

once the ball is played with players behind the defense, that is what is called offside.

Squillaci was offside but Henry wasn't. RminusQ is right in how he interprets the offside rule.

any player offside, is offside? right

NO... the offside rule has two parts

1. YOU HAVE TO BE IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION
2. YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN ACTIVE PLAY

exact quote from the actual FIFA "Laws of the game" book

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position

Halli: What_Would_Jimi_Do: RminusQ: What_Would_Jimi_Do: hand ball smamb ball, they were offside.

From what I saw, the offside player didn't play the ball or block anyone from playing the ball. Just being offside is not an infraction if you're not directly involved in the play.

once the ball is played with players behind the defense, that is what is called offside.

Squillaci was offside but Henry wasn't. RminusQ is right in how he interprets the offside rule.

This is correct. You have to be involved with the play.
Link (new window)
A little flash demonstration.
That was a shameful handball and a horrible missed call. Too bad the Algerians get into the World Cup because of it.

French screw over the gaelics, who are more like the gauls then they are. Dirty Franks.

It was not "instinctive" from Henry. Every footballer's instinct (except a 'keeper), honed over the course of a lifetime playing the game, is to whip your hand away from the ball when it is close. He deliberately moves his hand towards the ball, cushions it down in two movements, plays on and celebrates the win along with everybody else. Then he thinks he can come out afterwards, say sorry and it's all okay. Just like those who dive, you can go fark yourself, Thierry. I thought you were better than that.

Of course, FIFA will do nothing about it. Their big, marketable darlings are at the world cup just like they wanted, so they won't want to tarnish it by punishing a man for robbing a nation of a dream they worked four years to accomplish. That many of the squad will never have the opportunity to see a world cup again in their careers is irrelevant - when there's FIFA money at stake, there's simply no justice in sport. The official FIFA match report makes not even a single mention of the handball (although it does praise the ref for his correct decision not to award a penalty to France a few minutes earlier, as if to give the impression he can take some credit from the game), in a galling whitewash.

Following on from FIFA's last minute decision to have seedings for these playoffs when it became clear that a couple of big ticket teams were going to be involved, the Irish fans must not know what to think. Robbie Keane couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice in a post-match interview I heard where he suggested that FIFA officials were probably applauding the result louder than anybody.

All this controversy, all the anger, bitterness and hatred...and still the dinosaurs say that video replays would be bad for the game. Really...what could be worse than this clusterfark we've got right now, yet again? Bring on the technology, save the referees the embarrassment of mistakes like this which can ruin an honest man's career and reputation instantly. The sad thing is that the honest mistake of the ref and his assistant, who are only human and can only see so much, will be the focus, not the dishonesty of the player. I'm prepared to wait for 30 seconds to check a big decision from time to time rather than have to wait four years for my team to play in another world cup, thanks very much.

That dirty cheating cheese-eating limone

Wow. What a horrible call.

someone should show the video to Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter and then find out if replay is a bad thing in the game. Dirty cheating cheese eating surrender monkeys

FreakinB: It's not Henry's fault the ref didn't do his job.

Don't be farking ridiculous, it's not the ref who cheated, it's not the ref who kept his mouth shut when he saw a goal that shouldn't be allowed was being allowed. You think the fact that he got away with it exonerates him of responsibility?

The first time his hand touched the ball it might possibly have been accidental, the second time he touched it he was cheating, there is no question about it. The ref through human error calls the goal and you think the ref is at fault? Get real - Henry cheated. End of story.

It's a pity such a great match ended that way and that stupid action by Henry, is going to follow him and the ref around for the rest of their careers.

Cormee: It's a pity such a great match ended that way and that stupid action by Henry, is going to follow him and the ref around for the rest of their careers.

Oh please nobody is going to remember this except some whiney Irishmen. Although it's humorous seeing the reaction from Keane who did his best to handle the ball in the box numerous times.

Halli: Oh please nobody is going to remember this except some whiney Irishmen. Although it's humorous seeing the reaction from Keane who did his best to handle the ball in the box numerous times.


Yeah, just like that whole "Hand Of God" thing blew over very quickly for Maradonna....

Fuzzy Duck: Halli: Oh please nobody is going to remember this except some whiney Irishmen. Although it's humorous seeing the reaction from Keane who did his best to handle the ball in the box numerous times.


Yeah, just like that whole "Hand Of God" thing blew over very quickly for Maradonna....

World Cup quarter finals are a whole lot different than the qualifying stages and Maradona was by far the game's biggest star at the time.

I mean nobody remembers Michael Owen cheating Argentina now a days and even that happened in the World Cup.

More Hand of Frog than Hand of God

/i thank you
//bows

Halli: World Cup quarter finals are a whole lot different than the qualifying stages and Maradona was by far the game's biggest star at the time.

I mean nobody remembers Michael Owen cheating Argentina now a days and even that happened in the World Cup.

Don't worry... we'll remind you.

/Hell hath no fury like a whiney Irishman with a sense of injustice

Someone seems to have updated his wiki page

Link

Here's a screengrab in case wikipedia restore his old page Link

Cormee: Someone seems to have updated his wiki page

Link

That's brilliant!

Gillette must be delighted. "First touch gets you close, second touch gets you closer....."

Halli: Oh please nobody is going to remember this except some whiney Irishmen.

Of course you're right. Opponents' fans shouting from the terraces would never use something like this against a player of the opposing team in order to distract that player to their own team's advantage.

Jesus.

All the people here in France are pissed about it, too. Ref should have called it, but Thierry shouldn't have done it.

Ireland should have been out of sight by that stage. Doyle, Duff, O' Shea and Keane all had good chances to score. Despite a brilliant performance, it's nobody's fault but the Irish players and management.

The French were shambolic. So many talented individuals, such a disorganised team. They need to get rid of Domenech (Benzema didn't play one second of either game - WTF was that all about?). Guus Hiddink should be available.

Yes, Henry cheated. So did Eduardo and Ngog and Cristiano Ronaldo. We don't need video technology, we need men. Honest men. Not like those cowards.

The refs in both games were excellent. Yes, he got a huge decision wrong last night, but so did Trap, Domenech, Keane, Doyle, Diarra, Gignac...

Slightly over the top:BBC live reaction (new window)