Thierry problem needs sorting

Monday, 23/11/2009

The debate over Thierry Henry’s crucial handball against the Republic of Ireland rages on.

Was it intentional? Was it cheating? Should the game be replayed? Should Henry have told the referee what happened? All of these questions have been repeatedly asked. But the most relevant point is whether we now need to use video technology.

There are two main arguments against using video technology. One is that football at grass roots level wouldn’t be the same as professional matches. It hasn’t been for years!

Another argument is that it would slow the pace of the game. For matters of fact, like whether the ball has crossed the line or an obvious yes or no like the Henry handball, it would surely only take between 30 seconds and a minute for the right answer.

Maybe like other sports, teams should be allowed one decision they can refer to a video referee each game. That way, managers cannot ask for every single decision to be reviewed and the game won’t be constantly interrupted.

Both FIFA and UEFA have opposed the idea, with head of UEFA, Michel Platini, a particularly strong critic. Since the Henry incident, the sound of silence from Monsieur Platini has been deafening.

The Frenchman is normally not shy when it comes to voicing his opinion and is certainly not backwards in coming forward when it comes to taking the moral high ground in all issues surrounding the game.

Neither he or Sepp Blatter have said much. Both men don’t need to comment, of course, and they probably won’t. Why should they? Having France in next year’s World Cup is probably the outcome they would’ve preferred. Henry is one of the biggest names in football and this fuss will soon be brushed under the carpet.

But the damage to football’s integrity cannot be reversed. Cheating is cheating and leaves a sour taste. The World Cup will still be a festival of football and make plenty of money but surely we want all the teams to have qualified fairly?

Henry did the right thing… eventually, as he came out and stated that a replay would be the fairest way forward. He was fully supported by Robbie Keane and his team-mates and the Football Association of Ireland. But the French Football Federation poured cold water over this idealistic resolution.

Henry’s reputation will be forever tarnished in the eyes of many football fans. For a player famed for his elegant attacking displays for Arsenal and Barcelona and regarded as one of the game’s good guys on and off the pitch, the handball was a PR disaster. Brand Henry is sure to take a hit but it won’t affect his marketability as badly as missing out on next year’s World Cup would have done.

The incident has predictably been compared to infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal that allowed Argentina to knock England out of the 1986 World Cup. But Thierry Henry is no Diego Maradona. Henry the player is simply not in the same class as the Argentine legend. In contrast, Maradona doesn’t have the class of Henry the man.

Surely now is the time for video technology? Following the worldwide outrage over this incident, maybe FIFA and UEFA will finally begin to take notice... We can only hope.

• 

• Have your say