Source: Daily_Mail
Guilty Henry holds his hands up: France must replay Irish play-off
Thierry Henry tried to save his battered image by suggesting a World Cup play-off replay, but his call was too late to earn Ireland a reprieve.[LNB] France's captain, until Wednesday night held up as one of the game's great ambassadors, responded to worldwide condemnation by endorsing the Irish FA's claim for their controversial qualifying play-off second leg to be replayed.[LNB] Hands on: 'Embarrassed' France captain Thierry Henry believes his country should replay their Wolrd Cup play-off with the Republic of Ireland[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Have you lost all respect for Thierry Henry? France star Thierry Henry blatantly cheated with his handball that helped his country reach the World Cup finals at the expense of Republic of Ireland. The forward earned a reputation as one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League with class on and off the pitch. But is that now overshadowed by his act of cheating? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Henry's statement was immediately welcomed in Dublin, and it will put pressure back on FIFA and the French FA to take action.[LNB] The former Arsenal star, criticised for his handball which helped him set up William Gallas's decisive goal in Paris that sealed France's place in South Africa,released a statement saying: 'I said at the time and I will say again,yes I handled the ball.[LNB] 'I am not a cheat and never have been. It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.[LNB] 'As a footballer you do not have the luxury of television to slow thepace of the ball down 100 times to make a conscious decision. Peopleare viewing the slow motion of what happened and not what I or any footballer faces in the game.[LNB] 'If people look at it at full speed you will see it is an instinctive reaction. It is impossible to be anything other than that.[LNB]'I have never denied the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.[LNB] 'Naturally I feel embarrassed at the way we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish, who definitely deserve to be in South Africa.[LNB] 'Of course, a fairer solution would be to replay the game, but it is not in my control and there is little more I can do apart from admit that the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalising goal and that I feel very sorry for the Irish.' [LNB]Bad luck: Ireland players were left fuming after William Gallas headed in Henry's controversial assist in Paris[LNB]'Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game.' I f he had said it on Wednesday night it might have made a difference, but by early yesterday morning FIFA had released a statement which appeared to kill off any chance of the game being played again. I t said: 'FIFA has today replied to the request made by the FootballAssociation of Ireland to replay the World Cup play-off match held onNovember 18, 2009 between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.[LNB] 'In the reply, FIFA states that the result of the match cannot bechanged and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned inthe Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final.' [LNB] Get over it: Sean St Ledger (L) and 'keeper Shay Given lead the Irish complaints to referee Martin Hansson in Paris but FIFA insist the match will not be replayed[LNB]Henry's apology was backed by Ireland captain Robbie Keane, who said: 'On behalf of the Republic of Ireland players, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for his statement. 'We can only hope that the French Football Federation might accept the wishes of both captains in the best interests of the game.' [LNB] After a meeting in Dublin, the FAI released a statement saying: 'The Football Association of Ireland has called on the French Football Federation, as one of theworld's largest Football Associations, to join with it and the captainsof both the French and Irish teams, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, torequest a replay from FIFA that would protect the integrity of the gameworldwide and the pride of the French national team.'[LNB] Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended Henry and hasalso urged the French FA to take responsibility by offering to replaythe game. [LNB]Wenger said: 'Football and sport in general is full of "heroes" who have cheated 10 times more than Thierry. People who bought referees, who took drugs, they are the real cheats in sport.[LNB] 'Thierry has 14 years of fair behaviour in sport behind him and he is singled out, for me, in the wrong way.[LNB] 'France has to say, "Yes it was a handball and we offer a replay" or, "Yes it was handball, no one can deny that, but the referee didn't see it and it could havehappened the other way". But they cannot leave Thierry out there.'[LNB] Wenger comments on controversy - what they said about la Main de DieuSportsmail's guide to the top 10 worst Frenchmen ever... and there's no HenryRaging Roy Keane sticks the boot in as Republic legend blasts: Ireland didn't deserve to reach the World CupFIFA rule out replay between France and Ireland over Thierry Henry handball controversyPlay it the Thierry way! Web whizkids launch Henry game after handballNow England are cheated by Henry handball as France jump up rankingsHandball Henry is not a cheat, says Beckham as storm surrounds starVIDEO: Henry joins Diego, Messi and more in the handball hall of shameVIRALS: Thierry Henry's cheating hand suffers at the hands of Internet jokers GRAHAM POLL: Thierry Henry's handball is only the tip of the iceberg ANDY TOWNSEND: We must use video to beat these cheatsMARTIN SAMUEL: It's so simple, let's force some honesty back into the game [LNB] Explore more:People:Thierry Henry, Shay Given, Arsene Wenger, Robbie Keane, Martin Hansson, WILLIAM GALLASPlaces:Paris, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, South Africa, FranceOrganisations:Football Association of Ireland, Football Association, French Football Federation
