FIFA Won’t Punish Thierry Henry for Handball

It’s a fu**ing disgrace! he cheated, CHEATED for God sake!

Come on, what did you expected? Platini is french, Blatter support France NT (he didn’t give World Cup to Italy because he hate Italy and love France)

Oh when the saints, go marching in, ma quando muore Platini? Di lunedì, di martedì, basta che muore Platini!

I can’t really see the strength behind this reasoning. Ok, so handballs aren’t usually part of a post-match review. But what is stopping them from becoming part of a post-match review? Back in the days, Schumacher knocked out Battiston (and broke a fair few of his teeth along with demolishing a goal chance). But hey, it wasn’t sanctioned by the referee, so that means it’s ok? What if there’s an international match where there’s a poor tacle that causes a horrific injury (think Eduardo) but that’s not sanctioned… Should that not be something a post-match review panel would have authority to punish?

I’m all for players being sanctioned after the match for fouls that were “missed” during the game. Henry’s handball wouldn’t rule out the goal, but it would warrant a two-match suspension (at least), just like a terrible tackle might not be able to repair the injury suffered by the victim, but the suspension means the player is punished adequately. Since the review panel is after the game, they can choose to dismiss fouls that are minor or that they deem otherwise not grave enough to warrant a sanction, but they can also impose heavier sanctions if they find the conditions or manner of the foul to merit it. Henry did “just do a handball”, but to say “players have done it before” isn’t really an excuse. There have always been people who die of hunger, therefore it’s something that shouldn’t be acted upon. His handball was not only clear, but it was crucial in the outcome of the match. Extra time of the second leg of a world cup qualifying playoff, inside the six yard box, almost on the goal line… Nope, no foul because the Referee didn’t see it.

But Henry’s handball wasn’t a vicious tackle causing bad injury, it was “only” a handball. How many players try to gain an advantage this way every match? Hell Robbie Keane did it in the very same match but got caught.

I agree that there should be retrospective punishment for certain offences missed by the referee, but not for this handball. Completely agree with Daryl that his punishment is in the way he is now perceived worldwide. Any other punishment would have been crazy.

As an aside, I don’t see why Platini is criticise over this since he’s UEFA boss not FIFA, and Blatter is Swiss not French. Lazy accusations are easy to make.

When carrying out the letter of the law, this makes perfect sense. In terms of justice, it’s an absolute disgrace.

More proof we are a society of law, not justice.

All Henry’s handball did was deny Ireland a chance at penalties. It did not deny Ireland a win. There were a number of chances for France to win that game where Ireland did something ‘questionable’. Still, no talk about that in the English press, is there?

Comparing a handball in a soccer match (which is entertainment anyways) to world hunger is the most rediculous arguement ever. That is absurd.
As for having a panel to suspend and fine those infractions missed that are deemed ‘important’ enough while ignoring the infractions that are ‘not grave enough’ is a horrible idea. Most people feel there is always a biased against their club/nation already. Imagine the outrage and scorn when your club loses a player for 3 matches and then comparing it to a player from the opposition who commited an infraction that you deem just as important, but the panel does not.

Sheer madness. Some people need perspective.

I really wish I could say that I was surprised, but that is not the case. I would never have expected any better from FIFA. They have done absolutely nothing about this. NOTHING.

i love the

“because handling the ball cannot be regarded as a serious infringement”

part.

LOL

Darren : is that a logical fallacy I see there? I compared the reasoning behind one and the other to show how fallacious it was. I didn’t compare a handball to hunger, but the logic behind an appeal to tradition, which is fallacious.

I agree with FIFA and Daryl. The circumstances should play absolutely no part in FIFA’s decision. It was an intentional hand-ball in open play. He didn’t even score with his hand like Maradona did (in a WC quarter-final, no less!). If every intentional hand-ball went to trial in Zurich, football would be in a very sorry state.

It’s a very slippery slope from retroactively punishing missed horrific tackles etc. warranting multiple game bans to doing the same for yellow card offenses. No governing body from FIFA to continental FAs, to national FAs and down have the time or resources to do this.

That said, I feel dreadful for the Irish and was really hoping for them to pull off the upset. If anything, this will just be fodder for the pro-instant replay folks…

I agree with Shaz’ statement.

While i dont really care anymore about Henry, I think it was a lame excuse to not punish him because “oh, it says nothing about hand balls in our rules” They should make an example of Henry. Like all those people say “people handball all the time,” so FIFA should severely punish Henry to deter everyone else from thinking of commiting handballs in the future. Cuss like Henry said “it was instinct.” well we should punish you severly so it’ll be your instinct to NOT break the fundamently main and first rule we all learn in football: do not use your hands.

Gilardino was banned for 2 matches after his handball goal against Palermo last year…How the hell is it possible that in Serie A we have a rule against cheaters like Gila, but FIFA haven’t a rule to punish these cheaters?!

C’mon mates, what Henry did it’s a shame, I wish your sons will never see it, it’s against football ethic

This witch hunt against Henry has been absolutely ridiculous to start with, I second everything Dave Trotter said. Basically, the English press went crazy, but I firmly believe that even without the handball France would have progressed. They have a superior keeper as well as some excellent penalty takers.

Anyway, the referee missed it. Henry didn’t hurt anyone or anything like that. That means that he can NOT be punished for it. You are all commenting about how FIFA did nothing and that they’re in with the FFF, but I find the real outrage is that this hearing even occurred, as it goes against FIFA rules.

I have said all have to say in this website but the “Fair Play Code” by FIFA.

So, I cite one webpage on 19 Jan 2010: “Time for FIFA to actually invoke Rule One of its own 10 golden rules Fair Play code, which can be found in full if you are interested on FIFA.com. Believe me, it is good for a laugh. Or a weep depending on whether you are Irish or not.

Rule One states: “Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.”

Just words, you might say. And you would be spot on, because FIFA has shown it does not have the desire, the character and most of all the courage to put its own values into practice.”

One of the conclusions in this issue is: “FIFA president Sepp Blatter is not a king in FIFA”.

A quote from a newspaper: “FIFA president Sepp Blatter referred Henry’s case to the disciplinary committee last month, saying it was “blatant unfair play”, but the player has not been punished and will be available for all of France’s matches at the World Cup finals.”

We are living in a democratic world and that is why we have polarization here in this WorldCupBlog; we can say as what we want to say.

Daryl is an employee.

kmmak2000,

For the record, I’m not an employee of FIFA. WorldCupBlog is 100% unofficial. They won’t even let us use the World Cup 2010 logo on the site. We are not affiliated with FIFA in anyway, and so everything in the blog posts is 100% my own opinion.

There is another good argument from a newspaper,”However, Republic of Ireland defender Seán St Ledger believes the Frenchman should have been punished, arguing if Fifa had the power to seed the qualifiers at the last minute, they should be able to take action against Henry.”

Why not have a draw to decide which team to face which team? Why suddenly seeding without rules? Why FIFA is not consistent in its behaviour?

I don’t think the seeding furore has any bearing on the Henry handball decision, but hey ho.
If such a review, potential punishment, and appeal, were to happen for every decisive contentious decision then it would take forever to complete a tournament. A referral system during the match utilising technology seems to be the only way to stop this, since the players will obviously cheat forever and a day.

What Seán St Ledger tried to say is “FIFA has the power to make rules when required”.

In Australia, we have review panels not only for soccer but also for AFL, NRL, and Ruby Union. We do not have the tournament going on for ever. Take a look at http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/how-long-until-we-forgive-thierry-henry.html#comments (December 7th, 2009 at 7:49 pm), where I have a clip on the A-league review panel.

Please remember that the review panel has no power to reverse, overturn or undo the result of a match played. The referee remains the person who has the highest power in a match.

We have been using VR (video replay or video reference) for cricket, tennis, and rugby here for a while. Every thing is ok. VR makes the game more entertaining and fairer (no absolute fairness in this world). Many who have not seen VR may have confusions and misunderstandings. Actually, the referee or umpire in charge remains as before to have the highest power. He/she can choose to use VR to assist his/her decision, and he/she can choose not to refer to VR if he thinks he/she is confident in making a decision.

If a referee or umpire is not confident in making a decision (like goal, wicket, fault or not), he calls for VR. Then the 4th referee (in rugby) will use VR to assist him/her to make a decision. Sometimes, the 4th referee cannot make a decision as well. In such a case, the 4th referee throws the decision back to the on field chief referee to decide. In such case, the chief referee decides on his own. Usually, “benefit of doubt” is used.

The “4th referee cannot decide with the help of VR” is not very rare, especially in rugby. It is because that the rule needs that the player has to have his hand or body on the ball on the base area to have a “try” (ie goal in soccer). But always there may be many player from both teams to crowd together that even the video cameras cannot see and the replay cannot show even in slow motion.

I am not sure anywhere apart from Australia has VR. Those who have seen please say something. It is because that there are so many misunderstands.

As well, I do not think that only Australia has a review panel. Max above has said that “Gilardino was banned for 2 matches after his handball goal against Palermo last year”. So I think there is a review panel in Italy soccer leagues.

I think FIFA tries to avoid litigation. France is a big country and Henry is rich and famous. Also, “Gillete” is un-formidable too.

Regards

For the record or not for the record, I’m not an employee of FIFA.

By book or not by book, I’m not an employee of FIFA.

A review panel is not aimed to punish players. It aims to make fairness to all parties. Take a look of the below:

“Outcome of independent Match Review Panel – Round 19
Wednesday, 20 January 2010

The independent Match Review Panel (MRP) – consisting of Barry Such (Chair), Simon Micallef and Alan Davidson – convened to consider the following incident from Round 19.

The Red Card issued to Iain Fyfe (Adelaide United) in or around the 61st minute of Adelaide United’s match against Perth Glory last night. The Player was issued with an R5 Red Card for “Denying the opposing team a clear goal-scoring opportunity”. The MRP firstly considered an Obvious Error (Red Card) Application by the player. The Obvious Error Application was upheld and, accordingly, the Red Card is expunged from the record of the player and he is not required to serve a sanction.”

Regards

VR is used by Rugby, Cricket, Tennis etc worldwide not just Australia. Personally I would love to see it used on football, but FIFA don’t like to have football refereed differently at the professional level to all other levels. Perhaps if there is a similar incident in the World Cup finals this time around they will pull their thumb out of their arse and accept that something has to be done.

Your example of a red card being expunged after a review happens in European football leagues too. But that isn’t the same as changing an incident which directly led to a goal, or punishing someone for a non-violent offence which the referee missed. I agree with you that it should be allowed in some instances, but don’t hold your breath!

“I know this was the biggest news in the history of the universe at the time, but all Thierry Henry did was commit a handball offence that the ref missed. He’s not the first person to do it, and he won’t be the last.”

Oh but Daryl, you forget, Henry is FRENCH and this is FRANCE we’re talking about — so anything they do wrong is MAGNIFIED to the equivalent of mass murder, Hitleresque/Stalinist proportions. Saddam Hussein was Santa Claus when compared to the satanic Henry.

I mean, look at the hypocritical hysteria from Max, an ITALY supporter, ffs – one of the finest, most persistent practitioners of CHEATING in the entire history of club and country football. The man sounds totally hysterical — “he CHEATED!” OMG, he CHEATED! Like that’s never EVER happened before, ever!!!

If Henry were anything but FRENCH, if this were any other country, the insane hysteria about this incident would be far FAR FAR less intense.

But hey, it’s FRANCE — who are, like, you know, totally UNIQUE and EXCLUSIVE in their evil, cheating football ways.

It’s all about people using this incident to express their xenophobic hatred of the French. They actually LOVE that Henry did what he did, it just gives them the opportunity to fulminate and pontificate and pretend to be morally superior guardians of football ethics just so they have an excuse to hate on the French.

Of course Daryl is correct. To punish Henry would then set a precedent: from now on, all handballs (and any other incidents) in all qualifying games for any tournament would be subject to punishment. FIFA would then face national team authorities clamoring for punishments after every single qualifying round.

If FIFA wanted to formally CHANGE THE RULES and use the Henry incident to establish a precedent that would be followed from NOW ON consistently, then a punishment would be a good idea. It’s the same point with the Eduardo dive.

If you’re just going to punish one isolated incident among a ZILLION other incidents and then leave it at that, not allow that punishment to establish a precedent to be followed from thereafter (thus allowing future incidents to go unpunished)…then no punishment should be handed out because it would then obviously be a case of hypocrisy.

Punish Henry be all means…as long as all such incidents are punished from hereafter, whether or not the mass murderer in question is French.

I’m not criticizing Henry because he’s french (in fact I’m an Arsenal supporter and still a fan of him), I only criticized Blatter because he did nothing, and because it’s not the first time he had a privileged position with France.

What also I said is: how the hell is possible that in Serie A we punished Gilardino for an handball (you can find on youtube writing Gilardino mano Palermo) banning him for 2 matches, but FIFA didn’t have the power to punish Henry?
What’s the problem? Gilardino plays for a medium team, and Henry play for a big NT? Or Serie A is a dumbass league where we can apply all rules we want?!
I need your reply to Gilardino-Henry comparison, before say I’m a France hater and so on (in fact I have nothing against that country, only sportship rivalry)

Just for the record: after Gilardino ban, nobody scored with hands in Serie A. It can sounds bad, but we needed to punish one to avoid it in future (or at least near future). The not-punishment of Henry (or also Eduardo) was a bad page of the “Fair Play” that FIFA everyday claim (note: I’m criticizing Eduardo, who plays for a team I support)

People are still angry with Henry?

The Henry incident criticism was without a doubt the overreaction of the year 2009. People were suggesting a ban for life and others even suggested jail (seriously!).

Those that criticised Henry would probably do the exact same thing had they been in a similar position. I dont think anyone would have raised their hand and said “this shouldnt be a goal” had they been in Henry’s situation.

+ Henry didnt score with his hand like Maradonna did.

I dont want to upset anyone, but I think the criticism of Henry is an exaggeration.

Henry will live the rest of his life carrying this

eternal shame, much the same as his compatriot a Mr.

Zidane.

Allez

Yawn.

I suddenly woke to realize that many missed the most important point in this “Henry fiasco”

I agreed that handballs happen all the time. I agree that by the current rule there should be no ban.

I agree that I would do the same (handball, pulling shirt or cheat); when a chance comes i might be tempted to cheat.

However, the important thing, the important point, here, is that Henry never admits cheating, regrets, shows remorse, confesses, apologies, asks for forgiving to the public and sets good examples to the kids.

That is the point!!!

Right after the match, he replied with proud straightly that it was a handball. Proud.

When he realized that it was all caught vividly on camera, then he used many different excuses and pretext, including like: “if the referee asked i would tell..”; “it was my instinct…”; “it is the referee’s responsibility…”…I m not a cheat..”

He did not regret right in the field that night and after the match.

If anyone can find any regrets and apologies that he had made “post here” to let me know.

Let me give examples (just few biggest names):

Marion Lois Jones admitted, confessed and apologized. The same is Ben Johnson of Canada. Johnson not only did admit, confess and apology, he teaches kids not to follow him, not doping. He once showed up in live TV debate over SBS of Australia to tell his experience to everyone over the world that he was wrong. That one was about France de Tour; a cyclist died suddenly.

Someone says that Italy leagues are corrupted then Italian shouldn’t have a say. This is ridicules. So, my father is a theft or murder, i am a theft or murder. And even say it is because it is French. This guy has a racist mind, so he thinks everyone is racist. Wrong.

This is not about France from the perspective of English men, this is not about purely about the rule, this is not about whether we or you would do it.

This is about, honesty, professionalism, fair play, and education.

Should he apologies anytime, I forgive and praise.

No one would forgive someone if he/she doesn’t even admit and apology.

Should Henry have admitted and apologized early on, I think all Irish have forgiven long ago. There wouldn’t be a committee hearing.

Not just pretended apology, not just expedient apology, but a true apology wholeheartedly!!!

Thank Aiden for your information.

We do not have VR (video reference, video replay) for junior rugby, tennis, and cricket here in Australia. So, why FIFA bother that?

Anyone has any suggestion!

As if the world needed proof (more than the cup “random” draw and no replay) to show that FIFA was in on the fix, wow- errrr… the beautiful game needs to get rid of its Blatter infection.

Further, I love how the Ulster Ultra speak about how we should just forget about this. Hatred for a nation progressing to the world cup is not related to fixing sport outcomes being wrong.

Shame on you thierry henry!Shame on you French Team!Not only they suck but they cheat!.With Platini as FIFA president,how could they replay the match?Absolutely disgusting!…and he went consoling an Irish player after the match.

T’inquietes!On va vous reserver un accueil inoubliable ici!

My Journey to South Africa World Cup 2010
I plan on stealing your grandmother’s credit card to book my trip.
No worries as long as I am not “caught in the act”. I will profess later “the bank let me do it and it happens all the time.”
Even if I had not stolen your grandmothers card, I still “would have probably” gone to South Africa.
Upon Arrival
No one caught me in the act, I am in SA and honored to be here. The only injured party is the grandmother and she is still complaining to some local official back home.
I plead that we just all move on.

It’s comforting to know that the vast majority of the world are disgusted by both T. Henry’s actions and Fifa’s response to him.

As bad as the hand ball was his comport after the final whistle was worse.

All this shit is about Henry being French. I remember the same righteous people went on and on about Zidane’s head butt in 2006 (what a shame for children who looked up to him, blablabla). likewise some righteous French supporters were saying Materazzi is so typical of Italians, teases, provokes and all that crap. Face it, poor Irish fans and FrenchTemHaters, we’re qualified, Henry’s hand was just one in million, football is like that, and even with the introduction of technology you’ll never remove the human factor and thank god you won’t. If you want super accuracy watch dart competitions, or chess. As for welcoming the French in SA, no need to try and ’scare ‘ us. this country is in the top 10 for crimes and violence, who the hell agreed to organize the wc there will certainly regret it when the ‘Togo’ episode repeats itself large scale. I live in Asia and can guaranty that the ranting about this ‘incident’ is a micro-phenomenon’ that only a few frustrated individuals continue to entertain. Henry rules, Arsenal rules, allez les bleus et bon vent messieurs.

“We are inclined to think that if we watch a football game , we have taken part in it” John Fitzgerald Kennedy (an Irish dude wasn’t he, see he understood…)

Crap shit Bkkfrenchie is yelling he is crap so everyone is crap. There are million craps in this world. Crap’s children are crap so doesn’t matter. Blablabla crap.

Everyone can be crap, there’s no need to be logical and reasonable. No need to be educational, just be a crap.

Soccer cannot be absolute accurate so just be crap. No one can cheat when playing chess.

French are not craps but this guy is a crap.

SA is criminal but the ones you said “no need to try and ’scare ‘ us”. Seems all are crap including SA. Only you not crap. SA is so bad why you and the ones you said want to get there so badly, crap.

You are the one who is frustrated and being crap. You can represent Asia, ha ha ha, you really is a crap.

Craps rule, craps llez les bleus et bon vent messieurs.

Crap

Hemmm, you sir speak English? Anyways I’m touched you went to the extent of choosing a name in my honor. I’m not sure about your reasoning though; perhaps you want to slow down on what ever it is you’re smoking. Are you the Head of the WC organizing committee in SA? Totsiens.

You are the king of Asia!

Now we’re talking!

Dear Sir, The most disgusting thing I saw in the run up to the 2010 WC South Africa was the handball committed by Henry in the match between Ireland and France.One cannot say that it was an accident. It was absolutely deliberate. And adding salt to the wound some papers showed Henry comforting an Irish player. Some comfort.

I have been training school teams since the year 1963, and it is my vade mecum that a player play honestly. If the kids see stuff like this on the TV, it is just a matter of (a very short) time that he is going to try to get away with unsporting behaviour like this.

A national player is a national ambassador and as such has to lead up front on all fields – especially in matters of field decorum.I for one see no justification in France being there at the WC 2010 in Africa.You FIFA have your own Rules, please apply them justly. If the English captain is under the scanner, how come this Henry gets off scot-free? Please think about it – and then do something.I do not think that FIFA’s only job is to be constantly defending its referees.

Al Bal – coaching senior football teams at the School level for 44 years.

I use to like and somewhat respect Henry. Now I find him a disgusting example of what I’d wrong with football and mankind.