The Sweet Spot

World News Australia's Robert Grasso analyses the week in sport. Follow @RobertGrasso
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Thierry Henry admitted he handled the ball during the World Cup play-off against Ireland. (AAP)

Everything old seems new again

20 November 2009 | 11:55 | Source: ch

Twenty-three years after Diego Maradona’s hand-ball effort at the 1986 World Cup lead to England’s quarter-final exit, up steps Thierry Henry to become the new poster boy for unrepentant cheats everywhere.

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Back then, Maradona was coyly evasive, claiming he scored the goal "a little with the head……and a little with the hand of God."

No prizes for guessing which description stuck all these years later.

Henry went one better when asked for his opinion about his goal this week which saw France qualify for the 2010 World Cup at the expense of Ireland.

"I played it. The ref allowed it. That's a question you should ask him", said the France striker.

Clearly Henry doesn’t do guilt well.

Moving forward, that FIFA allowed the goal to stand raises serious questions not only in regards to the quality of refereeing, but of the organisation’s reluctance to right highly contentious issues through the use of video replay.

FIFA’s Sepp Blatter, time and time again has insisted as long as he is president, video replay will not be used as it takes away the “spontaneity” of the game.

Surely it’s time for a serious re-think.

Here we are, just weeks out from the official World Cup draw in December to determine the respective groups of the 32 finalists for next year’s showpiece event and what sort of message is being sent to the world?

Certainly not the notion of “Fair Play” which FIFA has tried so desperately to espouse through the years.

In a delicious piece of irony, the Fair Play campaign, according to the official FIFA site was conceived largely as an indirect result of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

As they say. One step forward. Two steps back.

In a book published back in the mid-80s, “Soccer Match Control”, the author noted that gamesmanship was the art of cheating while still believing you are morally in the right.

The referee is to be outwitted and the only crime is to be caught out.

How true those words still ring.

In one final bizarre twist, it seems moral fortitude can come from the most unlikely of places.

You do have to start wondering when betting agencies can agree to refund Ireland punters their money but FIFA can’t organise a replay.




 

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Your Comments

27 Nov 2009 1:03 AEST

Gerson

From: Sydney

Not Maradona

Firstly Henry is no Maradona, secondly football is more than a sport, it is a drama. Sure, spectators like us always looking for a fair play, sportsmanship, ethics, and morale and also having the administrator always promoting fair play. However at the end of the day, it really is between 11 men vs 11 men on the field where they fight in every possible ways for each other to put the ball at the back of the line for their own team. Still i preferred Henry didn't do it, but it happened!!

Agree (0 people agree)
Disagree (2 people disagree)
 

23 Nov 2009 23:48 AEST

JK

From: Melbourne

No Video Replay

It's sport. 1986 was the last time it happened to this extent. It happens in every code at every level, however if are happy to see a governing body hold the ability to change the outcome of a game post match, or even call a replay of the match over the incident I fail to see how you have the sports best interests at heart. Over regulation tends to ruin any good game. Relax and pay attention to every fair game that was played since 1986.

Agree (6 people agree)
Disagree (10 people disagree)