Wenger and Ferguson call for TV replays in wake of Henrys handball
21 Nov 2009 - 01:24:30
Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson joined forces yesterday toinsist video technology is the only way to end controversies likeThierry Henry's handball.
The Republic of Ireland are seething with injustice but theBarclays Premier League's two senior managers agree that FIFA must takethe initiative and finally embrace television replays to stop a repeat.
Hands on: 'Embarrassed' France captain Thierry Henry believes his country should replay their Wolrd Cup play-off with the Republic of Ireland
'It raises many issues but the biggest one is how football can sort out these kind of problems and make sure that doesn't happen again,' said Arsenal boss Wenger, who believes UEFA's experiment of using an extra official behind each goal in this season's Europa League is not the answer.
'They have come out with a solution with one guy behind the goal but the best one is technology. We are sitting here in 2009, where millions of people have seen what happened, one guy doesn't see it and we can't help him.
'That is the most frustrating thing. Football is the most popular sport in the world and we are still having to endure these kinds of mistakes and we're all sitting there.'
Wenger, who attended Wednesday's game in Paris working for French television, added: 'What is terrible for the referee is that he gave the goal knowing something was not regular, and yet he had no help. Because of the unanimous reaction of Ireland he knew something wasn't right. He asked for help from the linesman, who couldn't give him help.
'I saw him walk from the linesman to the middle of the park, thinking: "I have to give that goal" and knowing it is not a regular goal. That is where football is guilty.
'I like justice in sport and I believe football has a big responsibility today to see how we want international life to go on and to be an example for people who watch the game.'
FIFA looked into the introduction of technology but shelved the idea last year when their International Football Association Board voted against using the 'Hawkeye' device widely used in tennis, just to determine whether the ball had crossed the goal line.
Manchester United manager Ferguson, however, claims the authorities have to reconsider because they are out of step with the rest of football.
'UEFA's stance is that they prefer human decision-making rather than technology,' said Ferguson. 'Until they change there is nothing you can do about it. You have to convince them.
'It's not a matter of going around every manager and every player in the world and asking their opinion because you will probably get the same one. They all think, as I do, that technology can play a part.
'It can help referees. The argument is that it would take too long for the referee to go across to the monitor but then you can see a goalkeeper take a minute to take a goal-kick, depending on what the score is.
'For the referee to walk across to the monitor and be assisted by his assistant, giving him help before he gets to the monitor, it would only take a minute.' Wenger agreed with this point. 'We lost more time after this goal with all the discussions than by going up to the video for 10 seconds,' said the Frenchman. 'We would have wasted less time with technology.'
Ferguson is still fuming about decisions he feels cost United crucial points on their last League outing at Stamford Bridge.
Referee Martin Atkinson gave a foul against Darren Fletcher and, although replays suggested he had won the ball, Chelsea scored the winner from the free-kick and moved five points clear in the Premier League.
'We outplayed Chelsea,' said Ferguson.
'We worked very hard on our tactics that week to get it right and we dominated the match. We had enough opportunities.
'Ireland were the same. It's just disappointing with the work they put into a game and it's taken away from them.
'Does that cost Manchester United the League? It very well could. That's how important decision-making can be. We're capable of recovering from it. Ireland can't recover. The finals have gone for them. That's the disappointment. It has denied a couple of our players the great experience of playing in the World Cup.'
Raging Roy Keane sticks the boot in as Republic legend blasts: Ireland didn't deserve to reach the World CupPlay it the Thierry way! Web whizkids launch Henry game after handballVIDEO: Henry joins Diego, Messi and more in the handball hall of shameGRAHAM POLL: Thierry Henry's handball is only the tip of the iceberg MARTIN SAMUEL: It's so simple, let's force some honesty back into the game
Explore more:People:Thierry Henry, Alex Ferguson, Darren Fletcher, Martin AtkinsonPlaces:Paris, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, FranceOrganisations:International Football Association Board
