Great Lies of Football Part MMIX

[Ford Super Sunday]

Thierry Henry thought about quitting international football following his handball in last week's World Cup play-off win over the Republic of Ireland.

The striker found himself at the centre of a huge fall-out after the incident, which helped France beat Ireland and book a place in South Africa.

And when asked if he had considered retiring amid the controversy, he told French newspaper L'Equipe: "Oh yes.

"Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up."

The Football Association of Ireland wrote to Fifa to ask that the match be replayed on the back of the incident, which saw Henry blatantly handle the ball before setting up William Gallas for the goal which secured a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 aggregate victory.

That request was rejected despite Henry released a statement saying a replay would be the "fairest solution".

The FAI admitted defeat over the weekend when the French Football Federation backed Fifa by stating that a replay would not be a viable option.

Henry admitted, however, that the "cheat" storm prompted him to seriously consider his future in the game - and not for the first time.

"After the 2006 World Cup, I thought about it, but it was too early," he said. "After Euro 2008, too, but it wasn't the right moment. There was a generation that needed me.

"Despite everything that has just happened and the fact that I felt let down, I will not let my country down."

The 32-year-old, who has scored a French record 51 goals from 117 internationals, criticised the FFF for their lack of support.

"The day after the match, and the day after that, I felt alone, really alone," he said. "It was only after I issued my statement that the people from the French Federation got in touch."

Linkypoo

Yeah Theirry, retire and miss out on a World cup campaign with France, the worlds greatest competition, and the pinnacle of every players career.

Forgive me for being a cynic, but that is one big load of trollope

[Finnegan]

Eh, he's been before and it's not like France have a better chance of winning this time. I'm not saying you should only go if you can win it but I mean he won't be experiencing anything new and it's not exactly like the French are a well bonded, well working team.

You don't really know what state of mind he's in, to be fair. It might just be spin for sympathy or he might be genuinely upset by it. He's always been quite a gracious, honest man in interviews and it's perfectly possible he feels incredibly guilty about the situation.

He acted on impulse. I'm not saying ANYONE would have done what he did but I do think it's impossible for anyone to say they definitely wouldn't have done it. Without being where he is in his career as well as literally at that moment there's just no way any of us can stand and judge him. I appreciate the Irish being upset, I'd be gutted if this happened to Wales but I think the fenzy with which some people are branding him some sort of disgusting, foul cheat is just stupid.

[lou]

Eh, he's been before and it's not like France have a better chance of winning this time. I'm not saying you should only go if you can win it but I mean he won't be experiencing anything new and it's not exactly like the French are a well bonded, well working team.

You don't really know what state of mind he's in, to be fair. It might just be spin for sympathy or he might be genuinely upset by it. He's always been quite a gracious, honest man in interviews and it's perfectly possible he feels incredibly guilty about the situation.

He acted on impulse. I'm not saying ANYONE would have done what he did but I do think it's impossible for anyone to say they definitely wouldn't have done it. Without being where he is in his career as well as literally at that moment there's just no way any of us can stand and judge him. I appreciate the Irish being upset, I'd be gutted if this happened to Wales but I think the fenzy with which some people are branding him some sort of disgusting, foul cheat is just stupid.

Agreed! He looked pretty gutted on the clip I saw when he was sat on the pitch with the Irish player after the game ended - didnt look like he was gloating etc to me. Humans make mistakes ffs

[Ford Super Sunday]

So it was highly convenient that Henry came out and said a replay was the best thing AFTER FIFA said it wouldn't be happening. There's the timing of a man full of sorrow.

I don't doubt his regret over it, and at least he admitted he did it. But I would hazard a pretty big guess that this kind of story has been instigated by his team around him, which I have heard someone on TV say he has, and a very good team at that.

[Finnegan]

So it was highly convenient that Henry came out and said a replay was the best thing AFTER FIFA said it wouldn't be happening. There's the timing of a man full of sorrow.

I don't doubt his regret over it, and at least he admitted he did it. But I would hazard a pretty big guess that this kind of story has been instigated by his team around him, which I have heard someone on TV say he has, and a very good team at that.

I just think you're being cynical for the sakes of it and trying to find controversy and conspiracy for the sakes of it, to be perfectly truthful.

I don't question that he cheated and I don't question that that's wrong but the bloke's been pretty honest in the wake of it and I think that's pretty decent of him. It won't mend the Irish rage and I'm not really saying it should, but those of us who are supposed to be impartial should probably have the intelligence and the good grace to accept human error and move on.

If there's fault to be had here it's in the running and the governance of the game.

I also find it interesting that you've got a Leicester Tigers badge in your signature, I appreciate the culture of "gamesmanship" is somewhat differently regarded in rugby but are you really going to tell me that what Henry did - an incident you seem up in arms about - was in any way different to, say...

In fact, in all fairness, I'm guessing Backy was far, far, far more aware of what he was doing than Thierry Henry.

[C-man]

Finners, I was behind that goal at that game and didn't see it happen.

Besides, they hadn't scored a try all game so to blame Back completely was pathetic. Bit like the Irish now, I guess.

[davieG]

As one whose admiration for Henry disappeared in a flash after the incident you have to say he's now on a hiding to nothing. I'm a big cynic of most things but there's no real way of telling whether his regret is genuine or not, whatever he's says will be viewed as media manipulation.

As he's always come across as a pretty genuine honest guy I'm prepared to believe the best of him with regards to his regret of the incident and view it as a one off aberration that should now be put in the past.

[Finnegan]

Finners, I was behind that goal at that game and didn't see it happen.

I was dead level with it.

Besides, they hadn't scored a try all game so to blame Back completely was pathetic. Bit like the Irish now, I guess.

Absolutely and I felt the Tigers were worthy winners, I said exactly the same as you at the time. And I think Ireland, for all their guts and effort, deserved to go out too. Ample chances, never took them. It's a well worn cliché by now but at the top levels you have to take your chances.

Fact of the matter is it was a crap game between two boring teams that's only gotten any attention because of one hand ball.

[C-man]

I was dead level with it.

The atmosphere at that game was unreal. The noise when they sang Fields of Athenry is sll unparalleled at any sporting event for me.

Absolutely and I felt the Tigers were worthy winners, I said exactly the same as you at the time. And I think Ireland, for all their guts and effort, deserved to go out too. Ample chances, never took them. It's a well worn cliché by now but at the top levels you have to take your chances.

Fact of the matter is it was a crap game between two boring teams that's only gotten any attention because of one hand ball.

Definitely. Fucking media.

[Ford Super Sunday]

I just think you're being cynical for the sakes of it and trying to find controversy and conspiracy for the sakes of it, to be perfectly truthful.

I don't question that he cheated and I don't question that that's wrong but the bloke's been pretty honest in the wake of it and I think that's pretty decent of him. It won't mend the Irish rage and I'm not really saying it should, but those of us who are supposed to be impartial should probably have the intelligence and the good grace to accept human error and move on.

[/quote

I don't mind what your think, opinion is a great thing

Pretty honest? How could anyone have the bare-faced cheek to deny a handball now, in stadiums with 20 odd cameras, and when it was irrefutable evidence. If he'd gone 'no, it was my chest' then it would be the stupidest thing ever. I don't deny Henry has played it brilliantly, coming out and saying all the right things after the incident, good on him, he has a reputation to save.

It's the easiest thing in the world to apologise after the incident, after the rewards have been gained.

But we'll move on, i'm sure football will even itself out anyway (that ol' cliche and all that) and something horrific will happen to France in WC2010

[lcfc_jme]

Game should've been over long before the handball, wasn't, shit happens and it's time to calm down now. No replay, no appeals, no more saga. Just look to build for the future. That said, I do still think Henry should be ruled out of at least the first WC game.

[Webbo]

Gary Lineker said in the paper yesterday that the ref should ask the player involved in these incidents whether they did it. Then instead of the onus being on the ref to spot it, it puts the onus on the player to tell the truth knowing that everybody who saw the incident on TV would know if he was lying or not.

[Finnegan]

The atmosphere at that game was unreal. The noise when they sang Fields of Athenry is sll unparalleled at any sporting event for me.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau before the Wales - Russia qualify. Deafening. Never heard a football crowd get so into the national anthem before, hell, even the rugby lot struggle to hit that kind of volume.

The atmosphere before kick off was so immense my face was tingling. Never experienced anything like it before, when people talk about atmosphere being almost palpable, that's what they mean.

[C-man]

Pretty honest? How could anyone have the bare-faced cheek to deny a handball now, in stadiums with 20 odd cameras, and when it was irrefutable evidence. If he'd gone 'no, it was my chest' then it would be the stupidest thing ever. I don't deny Henry has played it brilliantly, coming out and saying all the right things after the incident, good on him, he has a reputation to save.

It's the easiest thing in the world to apologise after the incident, after the rewards have been gained.

I played two games this weekend and in each of them I handled.

In the first game, I deliberately handled to stop a through ball being played through our horrifically square defence. The ref didn't give it, I played on (somewhat bemused).

In the second game, we were 2-0, the ball bounced up and hit me on the hand in the penalty area. Their entire team shouted handball, the ref didn't give it. I cleared. What do you want a player to do, scream handball theirself?

Bad decisions are part of football, and although I accept Henry actually keeping the ball in play with his hand and the circumstances are obviously more serious, he did what most footballers are told - play to the whistle.

[The Doctor]

I played two games this weekend and in each of them I handled.

In the first game, I deliberately handled to stop a through ball being played through our horrifically square defence. The ref didn't give it, I played on (somewhat bemused).

In the second game, we were 2-0, the ball bounced up and hit me on the hand in the penalty area. Their entire team shouted handball, the ref didn't give it. I cleared. What do you want a player to do, scream handball theirself?

Bad decisions are part of football, and although I accept Henry actually keeping the ball in play with his hand and the circumstances are obviously more serious, he did what most footballers are told - play to the whistle.

thats not the way to cheat. the way to cheat is to slide in, take the ball and follow through causing a minor injury meaning they can't play to the best of their abilities Besides it's not a foul because i won the ball first.

[shen]

I played two games this weekend and in each of them I handled.

In the first game, I deliberately handled to stop a through ball being played through our horrifically square defence. The ref didn't give it, I played on (somewhat bemused).

In the second game, we were 2-0, the ball bounced up and hit me on the hand in the penalty area. Their entire team shouted handball, the ref didn't give it. I cleared. What do you want a player to do, scream handball theirself?

Bad decisions are part of football, and although I accept Henry actually keeping the ball in play with his hand and the circumstances are obviously more serious, he did what most footballers are told - play to the whistle.

I see your point, but Henry celebrated like a madman after the ball went in, despite knowing full well he cheated and seeing the Irish go berserk at the ref. He can 'admit' all he wants afterwards, but those celebrations tell me he doesn't regret doing it.

[C-man]

I see your point, but Henry celebrated like a madman after the ball went in, despite knowing full well he cheated and seeing the Irish go berserk at the ref. He can 'admit' all he wants afterwards, but those celebrations tell me he doesn't regret doing it.

Fair enough. I didn't see the game and I've only seen replays of the actual incident and Henry sitting with Dunne after the final whistle, rather than the post-goal celebrations.

[lou]

I see your point, but Henry celebrated like a madman after the ball went in, despite knowing full well he cheated and seeing the Irish go berserk at the ref. He can 'admit' all he wants afterwards, but those celebrations tell me he doesn't regret doing it.

so a few seconds of instinctive behaviour means he cant regret it after a few minutes reflection? Sorry dont agree at all.

[Edmund]

Talk about overreaction of the decade.

Can't believe people are still making a fuss over this. That goal that Palace scored which was never allowed was ten times more controversial.

[lou]

Talk about overreaction of the decade.

Can't believe people are still making a fuss over this. That goal that Palace scored which was never allowed was ten times more controversial.

Exactly! It was Henry thats what all the fuss is about.

[Edmund]

It was Henry thats what all the fuss is about.

Enough to turn a straight man gay

[lou]

I certainly wouldnt kick him out of bed for eating crisps..... or handball!

Saying that our Yann would get a run for his money too

[Edmund]

I certainly wouldnt kick him out of bed for eating crisps..... or handball!

Saying that our Yann would get a run for his money too

[ozleicester]

I played two games this weekend and in each of them I handled.

In the first game, I deliberately handled to stop a through ball being played through our horrifically square defence. The ref didn't give it, I played on (somewhat bemused).

In the second game, we were 2-0, the ball bounced up and hit me on the hand in the penalty area. Their entire team shouted handball, the ref didn't give it. I cleared. What do you want a player to do, scream handball theirself?

Bad decisions are part of football, and although I accept Henry actually keeping the ball in play with his hand and the circumstances are obviously more serious, he did what most footballers are told - play to the whistle.

I trust you are currently reviewing whether you will continue to play, we await your announcement.

[shen]

so a few seconds of instinctive behaviour means he cant regret it after a few minutes reflection? Sorry dont agree at all.

I'd bet you anything that if he was in a similar scenario today, he would do exactly the same. He's always been an arrogant and selfish player, and getting to the World Cup clearly outweighed his 'guilt'. Of course, he's going to plead as best as he can to the media afterwards. He's got nothing to lose and everything to win, having been branded a cheat nearly everywhere.