Handgate: Your Reaction

The Hand of God, La Main de Dieu, The Thief of Saint-Denis. Has there been a more controversial incident in sport this year? This decade? Our inbox has been inundated with your e-mails, highlighting tales of frustration, anger and pride after the events in the Stade de France. So let us know what you think by e-mailing us at sportonline@rte.ie and be sure to include 'Handgate Reaction' in the subject line.

Some comments have been edited, while some have not, and as such will contain spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. RTÉ is not responsible for the opinions expressed below.

Back in my uncelebrated 2ndary school days in Ireland, an endured teacher frequently qouted Blaise Pascal, the gent who gave us many treasured adventures in the binomial theorem.This gentleman reckoned ,on the basis of his relatively short participation in French society, that the worst shame was to have no shame.

Henry, Blatter, Platini and FIFA should be treated as outcasts and pariahs if there exists any remnant of decency in this sleazy business of the socalled World Cup Football tournament.

Why does Ireland not deport the leading knowalls led by Geldorf, Roy Keane, Dunphy,+ that Independent bloke who goes into ecstacy over Tipp hurlers.The pontifications from these amplify any already horrible situation. Possibly attention deficit treatment might help these folks... quart doses of redalin...suggested...

The whole thing is disgusting even in a world where disgusting is the norm... Henry, Platini et al have brought corruption to a new level...who said corruption is ok provided we all have access to an approximately equal share thereof...Noel Brown?
Jack Wong

At first I thought there should have been a replay but after seeing replays of the incident and also the replay of the penalty incident I think that France probably should have had at least one penalty. Just before the handball you can see that Richard Dunne leaped into the France No. 17 leading with his arm and knocks him over, surely a penalty. Look again at the Anelka dive. Yes he dived but you can also see that Shay missed the ball and at the very least impeded Anelka.
Donal

I want to say you that I'm deeply shocked and ashamed by the incident which made that Ireland was'nt qualified for world cup and France is qualified while was probably loosing.

I'm already not very much interested in Foot Ball but I will be totally desinterested of what France will do in the next matches and worldcup.

In 1982 France was in the opposite situation when defeated by Germany in semifinal of worldcup in Sevilla as the referee made 2 mistakes in favour of Germany and we French were greatly disappointed with that. So I imagine today how Irish people can feel.

I thank you to tell to Irish people that many many French people regret what happened and disconsider their foot ball national managers and also politicians who did not clearly asked to replay the match. This present situation will be heavy to face for us French.

I apologize for my bad English.

I and the majority of French want specially to congratulate all Irish supporters who have been exemplary of fair play and calm and respect.

Best Regards
Pierre
Paris

Dear Sir/Madame,

It is not the first time that Henry has cheated for France in the world cup. The attached video shows how he orchestrated the sending off of Carle Puyol (Spain) during the semi-final game of the 06 FIFA World Cup. This decision resulted in a free kick for France and a goal.

This man doesn't know the meaning of the words "Fair play" and should be exposed and prevented from participating in the S. Africa world cup. I would appreciate you could forward this video to your soccer journalists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGfyV_mgUk

Thank you.
Regards,
Joe Wade

One thing that really galls me in all of this is the deafening silence from FIFA and UEFA. Apart from one brief but emphatic declaration that there will be no replay, they have remained conspicuously silent on the issue, even going so far as to omit any mention of the Henry handball from its match report. Irish fans are even being denied the opportunity to comment on the official FIFA site! How can this be? The only reason they are keeping quiet and refusing to acknowledge the incident is to ensure that they do not say anything that will give the FAI an opportunity to challenge or negotiate with them, while also ensuring that the matter is brushed under the carpet and quickly forgotten. It's been great to hear of all the various campaigns and petitions that have been launched, and I am sure all at FIFA and UEFA are well aware of the ire felt by Irish fans and football fans the world over. However, it does seem hugely unlikely that we will be listened to so if nothing is achieved by Monday I would like to think we will park our disgust and rage and look ahead to the Euro qualifiers with the dignity, restraint and class that our players showed on Wednesday night. We all know if the French had been the 'victims' of a similar incident Monsieurs Blatter and Platini would have us hauled back to Paris for a replay quicksmart, but alas, little old Ireland must deal with another poor hand dealt by the game's regulators. I'd love to believe there is some truth in Mossyk's post below, but the realist in me knows that ain't going to happen. And I've more important things to think about just now with a certain FAI Cup final on the horizon on Sunday! Come on the Bit O' Red. Shane, Sligo

How dare Roy Keane say "same old story" no mental strength"Who is he
to talk!Walked from Sunderland just before they were due to play Man
U.Couldnt hack the pressure! walked out on his country in Saipan! am
glad the Cork people at last are seeing him for what he has become To quote the man on Jo Duffy "A Twisted bitter man"
Jacqui

Still an avid Irishman after 40 yrs , listen to RTE on my computer at work, double reaction, share in the disappointment and frustration but feel it is pointless to go on about it , would serve our dignity better to take the higher road at this point , move on and take all the positives , especially the sense of positive play, we are always so defensive and more afraid of losing than giving it a go ,
John Lenihan, California

We all know Henry cheated, we all want a replay.......... One very important fact seems to have escaped everybody, Ireland BEAT France in Paris, last wed......... Extra-time was solely to determine which team would qualify, due to the aggregate score. Remember, the "away-goal" would not have counted in a.to.
Regards Ciaran, Galway.

FIFA are apparently in contact with the FAI tonight to explore Ireland going to South Africa on a automatic qualification ticket. This comes from a reliable source inside FAI. They can't hold a rematch because of the precedent it will cause but they need to solve it as it is not going away. This is being explored tonight so that Ireland will get to go and fair play will have been done with no precedent set! You heard it here first!
MossyK

I wish to voice my total disgust at FIFA how 4 officials could miss 2 deliberate hand balls and an offside offence that resulted in Henry goal. So much for respect and fair play that FIFA and Henry advocate so strongly. This game should be replayed or the conspiracy theory of FIFA favouring the "BIG" countries will remain. At the very least let this game be a watershed for some electronic technology to be employed in these important games as there is too much at stake in matches these days
Yours in disgust,
Conor McCormack

If France's football association was an honorable entity, they would
forfeit the match to Ireland. The play was reprehensible and directly led to the assist which scored the goal. The integrity of the game demands action, even if FIFA is too cowardly to do the right thing. We all need to petition for two on-field referees for all International matches. When American basketball went from two to three referees, the number of missed and incorrect calls declined substantially, leaving the result of games in the hands (or feet) of players where it belongs.....not in the hands of incompetent referees or referees who simply can't see infractions in the crowded conditions in front of a goal in a football (soccer) match.
Go Ireland.
David Robertson
Blowing Rock, N.C., USA

This morning's decision not to replay the France vs Ireland match has shown that FIFA are saying "If you cheat you will succeed" Fifa had a chance to once & for all clean up football & failed once again. It prefers to hide behind the rules of the game, yet Fifa can change these rules to suit themselves whenever they want. It would be better if Fifa took down all their Fair Play & Respect flags and burn them. Respect & Fair Play should start at the top & Fifa have proved once again that their words are just empty rhetoric. It seems the only things that Fifa understand are Power & Money.
Yours in Sport (or what's left of it)
Tony Daly.
Co Kerry.

Henry should have gone to the ref and admitted the handball. However, there is so much money and prestige involved in the World Cup. Ireland may well have won on penalties.... At least we accept defeat with our heads held high. Henry was a great player. Unfortunately, he will be remembered for this Incident....same with Zidane's head butt. The French won't go far....Ireland may well have reached the quarter finals. Allez L'Irlande!
regards,
Rob Wood
Stavanger
Norway

I have two points on the whole debate:

. People seem to be missing a very important fact. According to Kevin Kilbane on your show yesterday, the ref told him after the match that it 100% was not a handball. That blows the agreement that he did not see it out of the water. By saying it 100% was not a handball means he saw it and decided it was not a handball. There are only 2 options here, he either did not see it or it was a handball. No way can he say it was 100% not a handball if he saw it.
. Second point, how do Fifa feel about this incident's influence on young kids? Are we telling our children that it is ok to win at all costs, ok to cheat and win? Will we be telling them next to cheat on their school exams, where do we draw the line. We know that children imitate footballers. This incident has got so large, how many kids on the streets and in the parks will be saying he did a Henry on it this weekend, when there is any handball in formal or informal games. If Fifa do not do something, the whole integrity of the game is in question.

From Denis. a proud Irish man living in Manchester

I think turning this into an international incident is a little over the top. Henry isn't the first to break the rules and get away with it, just like every player who has tugged an opponent's jersey or dived or gone down holding their head when barely touched. Besides, when Duffer orchestrated a penalty against Spain in 2002, did the whole country ask for his head? Football has become a "win at all cost" game and will never be the beautiful game it once was. Time to move on.
Colm.

Delaney's initiative is being dismissed but it is no wackier than most entrepreneurial ideas:
Has anyone worked out how much the French FA would make from running another play-off?
This would have to be set against the costs and risks of losing out on South Africa.
Assuming that it was a complete re-run, France would presumably again be circa 8 to 1 favourites to go through by winning, drawing, in extra time or on penalties.
This might even make economic sense (ignoring the precedent and emotional aspects) for the French FA.
David Horgan

To Everyone and Anyone who cares,

I'm Irish and I'm sick.....
But to tell the truth anyone who has been watching FIFA for the last
while will know that it's all about the cash.
I challenge you all to go to the FIFA home page and try to lodge a
comment about FIFA, it will not be aired.
The system will tell you that "You seem to be using profanities, your comment will not be posted".......

FAIR PLAY

Here is what I wrote:
France cannot be blamed for going forward and taking part in Sth.
Africa, BUT if they do win, and I for one hope that they do, then FIFA will have shown the fans that the world cup and all the FIFA
organised competitions have no worth in the eyes of true fans. If we
want to complain, choose to do so by boycotting the product of their
major sponsors.

FAIR PLAY indeed, as long as you play by their rules.
Alan

For the French Manager to say that it is the referee's fault not their fault shows how ingrained and rancid the culture is in modern football. It is like saying, it is not my fault I shot a person; the fault lies with the police for not catching me. You must create a structure where people take personal responsibility.

If FIFA insist on not introducing video technology then at the very least they should consider introducing a "rule of honour". This is a point that Trapitoni suggested yesterday.

If, in a goal scoring situation, there is a question over the score then the referee should "have" to ask the accused player if they fouled. It is one thing for a player in a reflex to do something, it is another to stand in front of a referee and lie. They still may lie but that will be far more serious for that individual than the original foul and at least they cannot put the blame back on the referee. They will then have to take personal responsibility for their actions and live with the consequences. For one thing, personal sponsorship would be very hard to find. Sponsors (most) don't like cheats!!

This rule has no cost and could be done the world over at all levels. Breeching the rule of honour should have consequences for the player in the light of subsequent video evidence.
Yours sincerely,
Diarmuid McMahon

Hi RTE Sports
Just giving my two cents as requested :)

From reading the media for the last few days, it would appear that most of the world is behind us, and it would also appear that other than some French politicians, and of course FIFA (isn't the full name for this spelt in french? hhhmmmmm, very interesting), oh and how could I forget David Beckham taking Henry's side, that most of the French people are behind it aswell.

I am gutted for the lads, by far the better team on the night. People keep saying to me "Even if he had of called it we would have lost anyway", to these I say phooo-eeeee...no-one knows what would have happened, we were on excellent form, Given was playing brilliantly, Duff was having a blinder...I wouldn't have been surprised if we whoooped them at penalties, despite their Goalkeeper having an excellent game. To an extent I am also sorry for some of the French team, their manager was in the media there saying "I don't understand why we (the French team) are being portrayed as the bad-guys" (I'm para-phrasing a bit), to which I would say, the French team aren't being portrayed as the bad-guys so to speak, but the performance (and I use that as in their theatrical performance as-well as sports) of some of the players on the team (Henry obviously included) has had a ripple effect on the rest. Most of the french team on that night were playing very hard, trying etc...so for Mr Thierry Henry to have tarnished all that effort, hard work etc in the space of about 5 seconds has gotta be a huge let-down for them. Personally if it were Ireland that had done the hand-ball I would like to think I would be equally as furious...how do you try to teach children about fair-play when the message coming across from the Official footballing authority is basically, if the referee didn't see it, it didn't happen. Which If I were a child I could translate into well I can go steal a car, or burn down a house and as-long as no-one sees me do it I am alright. I think it is this attitude that has me the most infuriated. I read this morning that some French Politican, I think in the Green Party, said (again with the non-exact quoting) "it's not cheating, its just part of the game"...referring to Henry's handball. I would whole-heartedly disagree with this comment, it's not part of the game at all, hence why the rules are against it, it has just become so common place, along with diving and general bad-sportsmanship (which I think I should point-out, this isn't Henry's first time being under the spotlight for bad sportsmanship). Why? One theory, and which I would probably agree with is the age old curse of greed and money. FIFA specifically have proven that their slogan "Fair play" is a sham, and that they are in it for one reason and one reason alone, the almighty Dollar/Euro/Pound....<insert currency here>. That along with seeding the qualifiers...its just a complete travesty. The World Cup ain't the World Cup anymore, it's basically just a marketing scam.

Personally I think the FAI, and any other country's football government body should break off from FIFA, and start a new/improved World body for football, which as opposed to just saying that they are about fair-play, actually putting that statement into action, first step by introducing video-referees. I know this will never happen in reality, but the only way FIFA are going to get a grip is when their wallets start getting lighter.

I hope that for the sake of the sport, something is done, whether it be a replay or some measures put in place to prevent this happening etc...in all honesty my opinion of FIFA has gone so low, that I am considering the possibility that they fix matches through the referees. For both the lines-man and the referee to have missed this is a complete travesty, and is so unbelievable that I don't think it's too far a stretch to imagine that FIFA coerced the referee into giving France an advantage to prevent them from going out of the tournament.

Thats my 2 cents anyway.

Shane Troughton (Dublin, Ireland)

I see Roy Keane has decided to start shooting his mouth off about the calls for a replay - he never misses an opportunity to have a go at the FAI, the team and whoever on that team has crossed him in the past does he? Roy, shut-up and concentrate on avoiding relegation with Ipswich. Seamus Martin, San Francisco

I was greatly disappointed like the rest of the nation to witness the hypocrisy and double standards that are now being exerted by FIFA. The introduction of the seeding (half-way through a tournament) regarding the play-offs raised obvious concerns of a decision taken for financial motives.

The refusal issued by FIFA today is most likely based on law 5 of their rules:

Law 5 Decisions of the Referee

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.

The FAI quite rightly pointed to the precedent set between Uzbekistan and Bahrain in September 2005.

A statement from FIFA read at that time: 'FIFA confirmed today that the result of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany qualifying match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain on September 3, 2005, has been declared invalid and must be replayed.'

The decision to replay the game was made by a FIFA bureau including UEFA president Lennart Johansson.

'The bureau, taking into consideration that the referee in the match in question had indeed committed a technical error, established that, as a consequence, the match needed to be replayed,' the FIFA statement added.

The test applied by FIFA was whether the referee had committed a technical error. Once this is established then the consequence is that the match must be replayed. It undoubtedly flies in the face of logic not to say that the referee and officials didn't commit a number of technical errors.

I hope these comments are of some help (but undoubtedly of little comfort to people) and are based on my experience in drafting various constitutions and rules for sporting organisations in both Ireland and Australia. Anthony Fay, Dublin 3.

Oh do let us grow up! All this hand wringing gives me indigestion. It was a refereeing mistake - it happens. We had enough chances in both matches for the incident to be irrelevant but we didn't take them. Build a bridge and get over it! If we had scored a similar goal do you think we would be clammering for a replay to offer the hand of sportsmanship - not a chance! Aidan Tallon

After watching the game from Australia I was bitterly disappointed by the manner we were knocked out of the game. The lads did us proud and deserved better than to be dumped out by a cheat.

I don't blame the referee, I thought overall he had a good game and was consistent, I do blame Henry for cheating though. I also find the fact that he is now trying to justify what he did more insulting than the act itself.

FIFA need to show these cheats that their behaviour will not be tolerated but don't seem to be strong enough. John Dunne, Perth, Australia

The ball (pardon the pun) now rests with the FFF. If they were to offer to replay and put then the onus on FIFA to administer a replay, we would all see once and for all what FIFA are made of.

Roy Keane has a point too. We should have put the French away anyway,we are now good enough to do it,roll on Europe 2012, nothing less than a semi final place. Sean Treacy.

On behalf of all soccer lovers I am sorry to see that Ireland?s soccer team is out of the World Cup by a clear mistake from the referee. Hopefully France have the courage to offer a re-match. Everything else would be indecent. Allan, Denmark

Get over it. There are people dying on our roads, people being flooded out of their houses and unemployment soaring by the day. We had our chances to win. Shouldn't have come to that last match to qualify. Did anybody die as a result of the match? Frank

Whilst I fully appreciate the predicament FIFA now find themselves in, this is an issue which stamps of wrongdoing and negligence on their part. Rather than a replay, why not admit what has occurred is unsatisfactory and let both Ireland and France through to South Africa. John, Essex

We would be mad to take a replay, too great a chance of losing. Let the French go off in shame. FIFA must make changes or be seen as totally undermined. Henry should be banned; I think that this has happened before for divers. Save the hurt as future motivation - especially Les Verts in rugby later this year. Noel, Dublin

Below is the mission statement of what FIFA supposedly stand for integrity, authenticity words that are thrown around alot how can FIFA claim to stand for any of these principles when integrity would dictate fair play not cheating. I ask FIFA to consider this as may people are asking the same questions I ask that they do the right thing and enforce what FIFA stands for and take the corruption out of the game maybe not a rematch but a deciding penalty shootout Ireland deserve much more than FIFA turning their backs.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

Our core values of authenticity, unity, performance and integrity are at the very heart of who we are.

Authenticity. We believe that football must remain a simple, beautiful game played by, enjoyed by and touching the lives of all people far and wide.

Unity. We believe it is FIFA?s responsibility to foster unity within the football world and to use football to promote solidarity, regardless of gender, ethnic background, faith or culture

Performance. We believe that FIFA must strive to deliver football of the highest quality and as the best possible experience, be it as a player, as a spectacle, or as a major cultural and social enabler throughout the world.

Integrity. We believe that, just as the game itself, FIFA must be a model of fair play, tolerance, sportsmanship and transparency. Sinead Burke

As Robbie Keane has been saying, the late seeding for the play-offs was designed to give the bigger countries a chance to qualify.including France. It was not expected that Ireland would play so well. When were the play-off ever seeded before? Henry cheats and the French are laughing. Forgive me if I have lost my taste for French wine! Tom Ryan

Look, we all love football - that's why the emotions are high. Henry has admitted to cheating. Many players have said they would do the same. FIFA is a business first and foremost. The ref and linesman 'didn't see' the two offside players or the two handballs even though the linesman was in an ideal position to see everything. Football is the beautiful game but this is not football, this is business. FIFA needs France in Africa. Let's just accept this and move on. But please, please, can we drop the farce of fair play - nobody in the business really believes in this.

I've heard comments that FIFA cannot afford to implement video technology world wide. Look at their latest financial reports - they made a profit of 184 million dollars last year and increase equity by 250 million dollars - not bad considering the world was in recession. The bottom line is that transparency (and fair play) is inconsistent with FIFA's true mission statement. I feel sorry for French football fans. At least we can be proud of our team, our coaches, our organisation. Yes, we're not going to Africa but our team played good honest football throughout the competition. France's qualification is an empty victory. All they get out of this is money. There are many honourable french men in the football business - Wenger stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Perhaps it's time the people who play the game and the millions of fans around the world take back the game we love from the business men. Joe The Fan

Calling all Ireland supporters, This only takes 30 seconds to complete.

If you care at all about Ireland being cheated out of taking part in the World Cup by France, please, please, click on the following link to the petition calling on FIFA to have a re-match.

Sign this petition & send it to all your contacts in Ireland & abroad. The Irish have so many friends all over the world. If they get 10+million signatures, they will have to seriously rethink it. Don't let this go.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/32214/sign.html#se

Or let FIFA know directly,

http://www.fifa.com/contact/form.html Amanda

Everyone has an opinion; fact is that the ball was handled not once, but twice by Henry. He has also admitted it. FIFA are now responsible for making a replay happen. Danno, New York

As an Arsenal fan and an Ireland fan I'm am disgusted and livid with what Thierry Henry did. I and millions of other Irish people are disgusted at what happened. Controlling the ball with your hand, in order to gain an advantage and deceive the referee is disgusting. We, as a country, should demand, from FIFA, a replay of the match seeing as it quite clear that Thierry Henry manipulated the ball with his hand, twice, in order to pass the ball to his team-mate and ultimately win the match. It was quite clear from video evidence that this was the case. Mark Regan

I am French and yesterday, it was not a day of glory. I like my country, I like football, but I prefer justice. You played the best football but your victory was stolen. I am desolated and ashamed. Dominique, Chantilly, France

The game should be replayed. I know, as an ex-referee, that Law 5 says that the referee's decision is final, but with so much at stake (not that should make any difference - cheating is cheating no matter at what level), it is time for a strong stance to be taken to show all and sundry that this kind of thing will not be tolerated. Errol Sweeney

Hi! I am from Croatia. The biggest sport news in Croatia is hand of Henry. No more fair play in football. Everybody in the stadium saw that hand except the officials. From now I hate France and Platini. You deserve a rematch. Greetings from Croatia! Topisek, Croatia

Hello, I'm French, and I'm sorry for my English. I am all entire with Irish people when they want the match to be played again. Thierry Henry's hand cannot qualify France for the World Cup, it's impossible. You have to know that in France a lot of people are like me and would prefer our honour and fair play over qualifying by default.

The French are not cheaters. Only politicians, footballers and big business is with Thierry Henry, all the others share Ireland's point of view. I will never watch a football match again. Bruno Laurent

I just wanted to answer those people that tell us to leave Henry alone, that he did what he was supposed to do and get his team a qualification.

I do not agree. As a sportsman and champion, what he was supposed to do was to own up and tell the ref there and then what had happened. He didn't. The shining example he is giving our kids instead is: Under pressure, go and cheat. If you don't get caught, it ain't your problem. This goes against everything we are teaching our kids. If this is the ethical philosophy the French team are bringing to the World Cup - with millions from all over the world watching - shame on them. And shame on FIFA for letting this happen. Patrizia Tuohy

Just a quick note from a disappointed Irish fan in Canada. Although as disappointed as anyone else, it has gone over the top with politicians - including the Taoiseach - calling for a replay. Maybe it buys the Taoiseach and his cronies a few days peace and keeps the light off the more important issues of the day i.e the economy.

I understand the frustration of the FAI and the players and supporters and fully sympathise with them all, but maybe now in retrospect the damage was done in the first leg at Croke Park, and not going all out for the home win that would have set us up for a 2010 World Cup odyssey. Adrian, Ontario, Canada

Henry definitely handled the ball on purpose. He touched it twice to get it under control, he knew what he was doing. How, in the name of God, did the linesman not see both the offside and the handball, it's very suspicious. A very sad day for soccer, I hope FIFA does not make it worse. John, USA

Henry did what any footballer would have done. He got his country to a
World Cup. If it had been an Irish player that did that he would be a
hero. The game should not have gone to extra-time, but we were not good enough to score a second goal. Maybe if we had played better during the other games it would not have come down to this. There will be NO replay so let's stop wasting time and get ready for the European Championships. By the way, I am a proud Irishman. Leave Henry alone. If you have a gripe blame Blatter and Platini. Cyril, Atlanta GA USA

What a disappointment. Fans of football were the losers. Today already here in Bulgaria the big news is the handball of Henry, and we all look at FIFA and wait for justice. Fair play is the key word today for that game, let see what FIFA will do about that now, and hope they think very seriously about video analysis. I think the game is too fast these days and human error (or manipulation) is very possible. Don't forget - football is bigger than FIFA. Lazar Bozhov, Bulgaria

The right thing for France to do is pull out of the World Cup. Just think, if they were to win the World Cup who would think they deserved it? For them to carry on is just too dishonest. From Gerard (Bib), England

Being a long way from home and living in Australia sort of removes the emotion of the handball fiasco, so I'm trawling the internet for comments and discussions.

Firstly, FIFA rule are clear so the referee's decision is final and unfortunately we need to accept that. Didn't Ireland laugh at England being beaten by the 'hand of god' goal in the 80's? Thierry Henry is a professional footballer, one who knows the rules of the game so he knows right from wrong.

FIFA has a great opportunity to send a clear message to cheats whether handballs, diving or otherwise. Thierry Henry cheated, he's admitted so and the referee has missed it. A world ban for two years would make the individual personally accountable for his actions and may discourage future offenders. Why should football be different from athletics or are we saying that the governing bodies of football condone cheating? Adrian Cowman

What can I say? Ireland were the winners they should hold there head up high, they were the better team in the end and they showed that they can do it now. On the other hand, I think Thierry Henry is a joke and a fraud and FIFA are even worse, but we all knew that before now. Pauline, Switzerland

In view of the fact that Henry & Gallas {villain & henchman} were both born on the same day though not related, they can rightly be dubbed 'The Terrible Twins'. Shame on them! Colin, Cyprus

The FAI should sue the FFF, Thierry Henry and maybe even FIFA for the loss of revenue as a result of their being denied a place at the World Cup due to the cheating engaged in by Henry on behalf of the French team and it's federation. Seamus Scanlon

As a disappointed Irish fan living in UK, I fully understand the sense of despair felt by Irish football supporters. But hold on Ireland it is now getting out of hand. I heard an Irish politician make a ridiculous statement tonight on sky news praising Irish football supporters in Paris last night who behaved themselves and suggesting they had good reason not to.

It is bitterly disappointing, but look at the progress made in the past 2 years. The Irish team were a credit to the nation last night and if they had taken their chances they would have won comfortably. But even if that goal had been rightly ruled out for hand ball we were still facing the lottery of a penalty shootout.

I am more angry with FIFA. They are the villains of the piece, not Thierry Henry. They insisted on their late seeding rule, they insist on the outdated lack of goal line technology and they will leave the referee to take responsibility for last night's fiasco.

But please Ireland keep a sense of perspective on this. Do not lose your dignity. And politicians......SHUT UP AND STAY OUT OF IT! David

My name is Alex Morahan and I consider myself a fairly easy going and laid back individual. However my frustration is really building up over the result of last nights game. I have tried to send a few emails to FIFA and have them refused due to profanities...but I don't do profam="nities". I really just want to ask you to add my name and my message to those I am sure you will receive about this sham of a result. All I tried to say was that FIFA can not afford to ever speak of Fair-Play again if they allow this result to hold without giving Ireland the opportunity of a fair result. I was so proud of the men from Ireland last night and feel they were robbed of a terrific result. And I think it is past time FIFA came into the 21st Century with technology appropriate to our time! Thanks for giving me a little opportunity to vent this frustration and anger. Come on Ireland! Alex Morahan, Kildavin, Co Carlow

good night. it's a shame for us, it would be better to replay france ireland. Yannick Gloaguen french and breton

Hello, On the BBC website, 606 chat, last night, one bloke suggested that we stop purchasing products endorsed by a cheat. And then we inform that company they are losing sales because they are associated with a cheat. I will be doing this, no more money goes to a cheat! it wont get Ireland to the world cup, as FIFA are likely to bottle the decision, but maybe we can hit him in the pocket for all the money he has stolen from the Irish people. ALL my friends here in Nottingham , whatever nationality think it is disgusting. See you all in Poland 2012 as I don't care for the World Cup anymore. Cheers Bernie

hello, shame to be French, sorry, Jean-Luc

as I sat watching the game the last night here in Wimbledon my doggy 'Ticker' was put into overdrive indeed I was so proud of the way our lads played and yes we should have had the game wrapped up by half-time....however as I have been listening to all the comments following the 'Henry' now famous hand ball its going to be a great advertising coup for the ,Gillitte group with having Henry on the signs watch out for there new logo for there razor brand......which might go somthing as .....' With Gillette razors, like Henry you will always have a close shave' and then they may even bring out a special hand cream for those special moments....!!! thank god we Irish albeit annoyed we can laugh ...just a little light hearted look at the post match problems.......lets hope at the end of the day we (Ireland) will be treated in future with that now famous expression of FIFAs that is ' FAIR PLAY'.................Kevin Roc London

Just want to comment on the disgraceful way that FIFA have handled the fallout from last nights match. I think the IFA should look at the prospects of taking legal action against FIFA and the French FA for loss off earnings. Its obvious that FIFA will not reccomend a replay take place but if legal action is taken and the World Cup suspended untill it is sorted out maybe FIFA will have 2nd thoughts about the way they treat smaller nations in the future

Let me tell you that 100% of french people feel ashamed after what happened yesterday night. We do not deserve to go to south africa by cheating and worse celebrating it as if nothing happened. It's a shame a disgrace and we are all very sorry. We have no team no coach and referee was totally useless. Your squad played brilliant and all countries should have great supporting fans like yours. Congratulations to you all and shame on others responsible for that. Laurent

i think you should be ashamed of yourselves. it is the year 2009 and Ireland have been knocked out of a treasured world cup because of one massive error from a man. one man has made a decision to send a country and its fans home with its tails between their legs because he did not spot a blanted foul. not only did henry handled the ball in a way that a rugby player would be proud but gallas was offside as the ball went into the net. despite ire lands reactions and France dismissive approach the referee still allowed the goal. i have lost all faith in the game. i am just one but i speak for many when i say until fifa, uefa, etc get there act together, think about football and not money or whatever is swaying them (yourselves) i am no longer interested in buying bulk tickets that cost me €30,000 at a time each quarter every year to watch a poisoned game. i do not blame henry! i blame you, sepp and plantini. dinosaurs of the football world, when will you cop on and move forward. every other sport can do it. there are so many options in place to make football a great sport and keep the fluidity of it. to name two, an honest policy where a ref could have asked henry if he did handle the ball, he he said no than he would be fined after the match with a punishment that was fit for the foul. option two, a wild card option which would allow a team one wild card each game to look at a replay on the big screen. to say this would slow down a game is unbelievable. i will not expect a reply due to you not thinking about an individual and just who writes the cheques. shame on you. p.s. i understand that the person reading this is just doing his/her job and nothing was in this is directed at you. unless you happen to be sepp or plantini. Adam Forte

I do not want RTE wasting my licence fee on the world cup next year, make some sort of a stand, I will not pay my licence fee next year if you do. Do something to stand up to FIFA for us who pay your exorbitant wages. Brendan Hayes

I dont mind losing the game if we played well or deserved to be beat on bad playing but last nights game was totally ruined by cheating. Not only was it on camera but the guy admitted it on tv. What message does that sent out to all the kids watching. I just want to let you know how annoyed I am at the handball incident in last nights game with Tierry Henry. The whole ethos behind the game is fair play. They even have children holding a banner at the start of the game saying fifa support fair play. I still cant explain to my eight year old son why the cheating was allowed. Surly they can have a camera with a fifth official who can talk directly through earpiece to the referee. In this day and age and at this crucial level of the game they say they dont have the technology but I was able to watch 5 replays of the incident by the time shay given ran to the referee to explain. I think there should be a re match. Remember italy in 2002 world cup perhaps if technology was in place after that incident ,we would not be in this position again. How many more times is this going to happen When are they going to learn? Frustrated, Adrienne

Below is a copy of an email I sent to Mr Blatter at FIFA earlier today asking that FIFA replay last nights France V Ireland match. I await a reply! We live in hope.

Mr Blatter

This morning I am a very disappointed football supporter. Disappointed in the manner of Ireland's exit and France's advancement in the 2010 World Cup qualifying competition.

A reminder of FIFA's Fair Play Code

'Play fair. 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.'

Last night an injustice in football was witnessed by millions of people worldwide.

My question to you is; Has FIFA got the 'courage and character' to 'play fair' by the teams and supporters of both Ireland and France as well as neutral football supporters world wide and replay the 2nd leg of last nights World Cup qualifying match?

Yours in football,
Laurence Wolahan

Hi folks,
Just to let you know that FIFA have blocked registrations to their
website from Ireland. I have had many people here try to no avail.
They have also deleted all of the comments which were on the news
stories on their site pertaining to this. For instance, this page had
98 comments this morning:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1136804.html#gallas+breaks+irish+hearts

Thanks, Tony

Fifa play the game - children in the park would not allow Henri's hand ball control. This was a professional game on the world stage for their their prestigious world tournament. Fifa should take responsibility and recommend a fair replay on neutral ground. Willie Morison

After the developments of last night, I urge the president of the FAI, Mr. John Delaney, not to lie down and accept the faith after the GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF THIS PRESENT IRISH TEAM. Everyone in the world who saw that goal knows that we were blatantly cheated out of that game. If there was ever a better chance of getting rid of these cheaters in the game and getting FIFA and UEFA to bring in some form of extra help to stamp it out, this is it. I am not only writing this to you, but also to every paper and tv station in the country and if possible, to FIFA and UEFA. Lets fight that decision to the bitter end and get everyone behind us. Kind Regards, Lorcan Clancy.

I'm sure you've received hundreds, if not thousand of emails and phone calls regarding last nights results. Firstly I would like to congratulate the Irish players on the way they played and for giving Soccer in Ireland the extra boost of confidence and belief that it had been lacking since the previous campaign. I would also like to say well done to management and players on having only lost one competitive match throughout the campaign.

It's understandable that as fuss as possible must be made about the result, not just about the handball but also the seeding of the playoffs in the first place. I watched the program on Brian Kerr in the Faroe Islands during the week and his comments on decisions always going the ways of the bigger team screamed louder than ever after last night. I doubt we'll get a replay. Not unless the rest of Europe gets behind us. Which may be hard to envisage unless we use the internet and other media to get our message out there.

I think we need to go down the root of Sheffield Utd after West Ham put them out of the Premiership in England and sue them. Not just the French FA, but Theirry Henry, Fifa and the match officals. I know it drastic but we have to hit them where it hurts. We can sue them for loss of earnings. Even the effort of this will give the country some sense of Justice and will really case Fifa etc to sit up and listen.

Thank you for your time and again I wish to commend the Irish players and management on how they have handled themselves so professionally not just last night but thoughout the campaign. I am looking forward to the European Qualifications, especially after hearing Mr. Trappatoni's comments that we will be playing like this from now on.

Regards, Padraig

Please see the attached link from the fifa website which shows a precedent of a world cup qualifier being replayed

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=27212.html

I wish to call upon the FAI to follow the example of the Uzbekistan FF and their '...formal protest from the Uzbekistan Football Federation' to launch a formal protest to Fifa from the FAI. This needs to be done as soon as possible.

The key points within link
1. the rematch will never ever be possible unless the FAI make a formal complaint
2. in the precedent of the rematch that is above point 5 states that because the laws of the game required something different to the decision of the referee the rematch was ordered

surely the laws of the game state that an outfield player cannot handle the ball, therefore the laws of the game were broken. i think we have a serious serious case but we have to get the FAI to make a formal complaint. on a sidenote i am so so so proud of the Boys in Green last night, legendary

Dear friends,
We cry on french team for this « victory ». Ireland team was the best on the pitch, we won't go to South Africa happy and we'll probably be out quickly if we play like that. Irish people is probably the most sympathetic we Know, we are friends for so many centuries. I can ensure you that nobody feels glorious here. Everybody clean his hands. We like our players but not our team, and Ireland is a real team. See you with a beer in a rugby stadium at spring. JP, feeling guilty.

Dear Mr Valcke,
Like I think every soccer fan in the WORLD, I was very saddened by the inability of the linesman to inform the referee of the blatant handball by Thierry Henry at the France Ireland match in Paris last night. Do not say it was not obvious, as the television cameras picked it up very clearly. I am not complaining about the referee as he did not see the handball. However there is also the fourth official, who spent more time chatting on the side line to the Team managers than watching the match as extra eyes. What is his function?

The lack of a consistent standard of refereeing in football is abysmal at the international, premier league and eurocup levels, which is truly ironic in the day of modern era when so much rides on the results in terms of betting, endorsements and fostering the game. It needs to be overhauled in the interest of fair play and there is no reason or excuse why it shouldn't be.

The fair play project developed by FIFA is an absolute joke firstly in light of the seedlings which was introduced only in Europe, subsequent to the start of the qualifiers. This is biased. There were no seedings introduced in any other continents. Why? Can you justify this? Is this fair play? It does not show true gamesmanship. Can you and Mr Set Blatter justify such activities and standards. Its smells of giving the so called seeded teams in Europe a further advantage.

What's worse is that the FIFA web page http://www.fifa.com/ is like a promotion for French football (oh and by the way, while I typed this email). You as Secretary General, should be impartial to nationality. However your web page, makes for interesting reading as you are a Frenchman, http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/administration/generalsecretary.html (quickly, change that too).

I hope that FIFA, you and Set Blatter are inundated with emails of complaint and that changes are made. When fans rioted and fought each other at and after matches in the 80's and 90's, did anybody at FIFA think perhaps we need to overhaul the refereeing practices. It should be changed now.

Irrespective of what happens now, it is the French team's copy book which is blotted with a stain of ungamesmanship, particularly Thierry Henry, who is an excellent and honest player. Sadly I am sure that the French public will also be disappointed.

The French Manager, Raymond Domenech, the coaching staff and rest of the team seemed to show a total lack of respect for the Irish team, the Irish management and Irish fans at the match with their display of euphoria. I think an apology is forthcoming from the French Manager.

Finally, I have copied UEFA in this email as they also need to act.
Yours sadly,
Aoife

Utterly disgusted at the blatant cheating by the French captain Thierry Henry in last nights game. How about everyone complaining to FIFA in Zurich, either by letter, fax or email. I personally think that France should admit the cheating and go for a replay. Ks
I don't know where to write but I hope I am not alone to do so! I want to tell you how horrified I am for yesterday's stolen victory of France. It is a shame for our country. Where are the sport values? I just want to say that it was not bad luck on Ireland to have lost to France. It was appalling, I think FIFa is corrupt and something should be done now. Ireland are probably the best team not to have qualified. Everyone always says that they are the nearly what if team but this campaign was not that I live in the US and flew to Bari to see the tie with Italy and tie with Bulgaria. They were so united as a team and behind the manager. I fell bad for Trapatoni. Patrick Owens

I would just like to say that after watching the game here in Brisbane Australia that I hope the referee in todays game will not be officiating in South Africa as he has denied all these players a chance to be there. It would be unfair for him to take part as he clearly indicated to the Irish players after consulting with his assistant that the ball came off Henrys chest, which shows how badly the all got it wrong. Aidan Murphy, Brisbane Australia

How can Fifa claim to be all about fair game when they allow a player to hand ball the football twice if not 3 times in order to get the winning goal. If he was found ot be taking drugs he would be banned for a time period. So why wont Fifa ban hin for hasnd balling in a must win game like that. One rule for them and another for the rest. Peoplke wouldn't mind if it was a fair goal that won the game instead of a repeated hand ball. If you remenber maradona did the same but he scored another goal after his Famous hand of god. While france only got the one goal. Why is soccer one of the onlt major sports games todate that doesn't have a video ref. Ice hockey tennis and rugby all have a form of video ref. So why not SOCCER is Fifa afraid that The big teams wont get into there beloved world cup while the teams who play there heart out get cheated out??. All i can say is replay!!!! and many other people argree as can be seen by the thousands who join the facebook and bebo groups and the people who sign the petitons online here is on for example...
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/francecheated

Dear RTE,

As our national broadcaster, please, please, please reply here!

After watching tonight's game I feel the need to get in touch with the appropriate people to see if action can be taken. This is not a rant by a person who feels let down by a result, its not a rant to moan about refereeing or fifa, its more a reflection of what has happened.

THE FACTS

Two teams have played for a place in the world cup
Two countrie's fans have supported their teams by paying real money in some of the hardest times known economically in the modern day era
Young kids have sat and watched a player break the rules and win
Two countries have gone head to head to fulfill their dreams
Rules have been broken and IT HAS PROVEN THAT PAYS TO BE DISHONEST

Now forget this is Ireland or France, it's irrelevant. What has happened tonight has shown that dishonesty pays. If Henry had held his hand up after the goal (instead of before!) and said he handled, he would have become the most respected footballer in the world. Instead he has completely ruined his reputation.

The referee, who was having a fantastic game, has now become a laughing stock, as has one of assistants. More importantly, FIFA have become questionable. If you go to their match report, they dont even mention the controversy of the handball.

The thing that really riles me here, isnt just the fact that i am not even able to obtain an email address to contact them directly, but more importantly, the need for them to recognise what has happened and organise a revision of rules.

I am 27 and fingers crossed healthy enough to hope that i might see the team i love play in another major competition. However their are people out there of all nationalities, supporting teams and following football who may follow sides, who suffer the at the hands of bad decisions so blatant as the Irish did tonight, that will never again get the chance to see their favoured side again. Now that may seem an exaggeration, but believe you me, this is something that needs to be considered.

Alongsde this, you have players, managers and staff who could be in the brink of retirement and no matter how hard they try to play within the rules, one person's decision could end it all.

Whilst this may be considered a pathetic rant, i am hoping you will help me to take this mail to the right people; Fifa, uefa, FAI, The French FA, The Press and Thierry Henry, because, at this stage i think it is a joke. Whilst it may not be murder, it is certainly robbery and to me it just sends out the wrong message.

Please help me pass this on to FIFA, as I would love to get a response.

Yours Sincerely,
David Wilson

I'll never laugh at England again. I always thought Maradona's actions were quite funny to be honest, but this really gives a view from the other side. Thierry will always be one of the best players I've ever seen, but I'll never have the same respect I had for him. I'm just happy that when he kicked the ball across the goal it didn't hit an Irish player to go in. That would have been insult to injury.

That was certainly the best Irish performance I've seen in a long, long time. Every player played out of their skins. The argument about the dearth of talent on the bench is a moot point tonight, John O'Shea's substitution was enforced and Paul McShane was outstanding when he came on, relieving my initial terror. Glenn Whelan's substitution was also necessitated, and Darron Gibson was an ideal like-for-like replacement. Lee Carsley, the only other Irish defensive midfielder, would have been an accident waiting to happen, he is a serial fouler and a liability and I'm thankful he doesn't get a look-in anymore.

I cannot stand how the lads in the studio are making out as though this performance was in spite of Trapattoni. I always believed he would let his players off the leash tonight, and he did. He is a very cagey manager but he has every reason to be. Away goals are a shadow that looms in two-legged ties. Once that obstacle was passed I was sure he would release them to play without fear, and they did, deserving much, much more than they got.
Aidan Ryan

Henry is a cheat. He should be suspended for cheating. A real pro would not do this. Remember r fowler in penalty decision v arsenal? Padraig

Our lads played fantastically well tonight - the best performance from an Ireland football team in years. Congratulations to the team - the players, management and support staff. If there was any justice in football, we would have qualified for the World Cup in normal time, having created the number & quality of chances we created - Robbie's, Duffers and O'Shea's. As for Henri - he is a cheat. If he could be honest even now that he has unjustly worked France into the World Cup, he should admit to cheating and be ashamed of himself. As a fan, I am devastated but very proud of a magnificent performance by our lads. John

the reprocussion s of that result and the manner in which it was given should ring out throught out the world cup campaign. the french cheated and fifa got the result they wanted. the country of ireland will suffer and i wish that france be disqualified from the world cup. if you cheat in any other sport or profession you get penalised or loss your job. Regards hugh bailey

here im IRISH right!! but i dont really blame henry i blame fifa for not having video referees or extra officails on the lines! im sickened ireland didnt go through but put it this way if france were ireland and henry was robbie keane id be delighted!! dont go blaming henry for if it was me id do anythin for my country to go through too!! its FIFA AT FAULT!! they have millions and cant afford video eveidence like nearly every other sport has it! feel sorry for the senior irish players they wont have a chance to play in the world cup again maybe. ohh ye heres another thing! people say THE LUCK OF THE IRISH deflected goal in the first leg then that pathetic decision!! not only was it the handball from henry the free kick was offside its pathetic!
KEEP MY NAME ANONYMOUS PLEASE:)

I would like to no if use think that Henry would get banned the same way that Alberto Gilardino did in Italy in 2008. Also use where saying about how Ireland need Champions League players but Andy Reid plays for sunderland sunderland not near champions league stephen reid can't get back for injury and finnan is playing for a bottom of the league team and couldn't get anywhere in spain but use say that they should be in the team. Michael O'Neill, Irish and proud of it!!!!

Hi, what about the fact that we will be seeded 3th or 4th in group stages, which is crap all things being equal, sean kelly

what a sham all those hundreds of thousands of people watching a cheat get away with it professional soccer is discusting they nearly encourage cheating instead of punishing it how many young kids will now try to emulate henri cheating got france to the world cup finals from fergus nolan greystones

How would you compare that handball situation in the match tonight to the incident that happened harlquins in the rugby with the blood capsule. Regards, Shane Counihan.

Sport can be a metaphor, and teach us lessons, like hard work results in rewards
Then Football has failed...as shown by last night's World Cup Qualifier between France and Ireland. It is not setting an example that justice prevails.

If cheating is missed on night, that's one thing, but blatant cheating needs to be sanctioned. Football tells us, if you cheat, you can get away with it! And get rewarded with a world cup place....no sanction. That is Bull. Football needs to learn from rugby, tennis, etc. and set an example...

FIFA should replay the game. Issue a few months ban to Henry. And send a message to the world that it wants to be relevant, and that it works for 'Fair Play', which it spoends so much money in promoting.

This can be easily implemented. If not by a TMO, then by a citing commision after the fact. (As in Rugby)
Thanks,
Seán

Heroic team bring back stephen Ireland andy Reid Stephen Reid lee carsley and so on let bygones be bygones
John Coady glenmore Kilkenny

to john jiles
please do not assume that all profrssional soccer players are cheats there has to be some left in the game who are honourable and do not cheat

I would like to ask if that Match can be replayed due to the handball? Liam Lawarnce was brill the nite. as was all the lads. Players like McShane, Gibson, Best, should not be playing for ireland. Not good enough.

Keane tryed to handle the ball 5 times before Henry did it right
Kind Regards
Paul

The FIFA website says 'Thierry Henry won the match for the hosts when his angled pass'. What a spin and insut to Irish people
Declan

Hard done by the french tonight with henrys handball, eamon dunphy was right by saying it should of went to a video ref as it was a handball. Why did we not have the extra refs like that europa league have as it would of helped. Robbie keane and doyle played a blinder but i think clinton morrision should be called back to the squad. Aisling

The football forum on l'equipe.fr is full of people talking about 'France's night of shame', 'henry is a cheat etc'. Would it be the same here? Pete

Lets face the facts here politics won through, platini got what he wanted, henry should make the olmypic handball team. James and the lads in forster court in galway upset and the college bar NUIG

After living in Africa (Botswana) for the past 26 years and having followed Ireland in the world rugby cup in south Africa. I only want to say 'what has happened to fair play. I am heart broken for the effort the boys put in and I think the officials i.e. ref and lines man should be held accountable for the diabolical decision that was made in paris tonight and the sooner FIFA brings in the video ref as in rugby the better for all. No more prima donnas, no more spectacular dives, Soccer players would not last 5 minutes on a rugby pitch. Long live Robbie and the boys
Well done trappatoni
Tom gaborone

After the cowards of fifa seeding the big countries are you really surprised why they do not want video evidence at the time the incident happens z, Thierry Henry should be ashamed of himself, that is if he has any within himself, besides he should not even have been on the pitch - 2 blatent dives that both desrved yellow cards. The ireland team should be proud of themselves, they were robbed, and im an Englishman.

Any right thinking Irishman or Irishwoman is perfectly correct to feel outraged by what we have witnessed in Paris this evening. Furthermore they would in my honest openion be just as entitled to feel the same way with your panel who feel that it is not correct to call Thierry Henry a 'cheat or a thief'. What else would you call him I ask. How do you explain what he did to a child.

I would like you to ask the panel how they would describe his actions to a child seeing as they do not consider these words to be just response to somebody who has done exactly that 'CHEATED'.

There are no nice words for his actions as the player I believe who played with Leicester found out when he recieved mail from all over the world for his action in 'CHEATING' Munster out of a Heineken Cup Final.

He in the end had to face what he done as a result of all the hate mail and had to dtand up as a MAN and apologise for his actions.

Apologies for any misspellings or incorrect type as I rushed this to you.
Regards,
Patrick

Hello my name is Flavia, I am disappointed and disgusted with what I saw today in the field. Football can not continue with this behavior. All sports evolve, but football remains with these shameful attitudes. This and the picture of FIFA, until when will we continue concodando with the final whistle of a single person who decides the future of a nation. We accept human error, but with all the technology the errors of judges are no longer acceptable. Accepting that a person ended up with a dream of several fans. Flavia Lemos (brazilian)

The French word for cheater is TRICHEUR. So now we can refer to TRICHEURy Henri. John Byrne, Cork.

Ouch! It's almost 7am, I've been up all night and that's just not the way for it all to end. If they'd scored a belter, then good luck to them, but how am I supposed to go to work with this sinking feeling in my gut! Brave stuff from our boys though. They deserved better. Conor Doyle

Hi there
I would just like to say what a specticle an unbelievable interlude to many a childs first world cup. Ireland deserved to be put through Henry should resign from international football because lets face it he will never have a good nights sleep with that guilt. FIFA should have a re-match and the true winners qualify.
Kind regards
Rachel Mc Galey

Just for the record, Ireland are ALWAYS PROUD of their International team, win or lose .... that's the first thing.. and the second thing is, I want to know if the FAI will insist on an investigation into this and have rematch and kick Thierry Henry out of the next game.. WE DESERVE A REMATCH - What does your panel think of that? L Shannon (Longford)

'Integrity. We believe that, just as the game itself, FIFA must be a
model of fair play, tolerance, sportsmanship and transparency.'
Source: FIFA

I have questions;

Could anyone at FIFA tell us what is exactly the reason for not using video evidence for important refereeing decisions similar to Rugby Union? How is FIFA a model for fair play by the travesty of no video evidence?

Instead of asking FIFA or UEFA to step in and do something maybe the Irish FA should ask the Countries FA's to threaten to Boycott the World Cup. I mean sympathy has been global and it is noticed and much appreciated here in Ireland. If the likes of England, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Spain etc were to threaten to boycott next year's event I think FIFA may sit up and take notice. I mean the World governing body are hardly going to hold a World Cup without the leading lights, and the financial benefits that come with them...... Anthony Nolan

Hi

You have to wonder why the ref gave the goal so fast rather than look at reactions as well as check with linesmen?

No point in looking for replays! Think Ireland will gain strength from this! If I was Giovanni, I would do everything next time to avoid a play off and aim for top of whatever group that we are in! We know that when we play well that we frustrate the best. We can be proud of the way that we played against the French and that they felt that they had to cheat to be as good as us on the night away from home! We also know our very poor play off results? Have we ever come out the right side over 2 legs, perhaps Once?

Would be very concerned if it was some sort of mission or fix as suggested by Damien Duff between Fifa and the French sponser Adidas? Now that would even be more tragic than failing to spot Henry fouling the ball at that crucial moment

There is no doubt that The Video Ref should be brought in as in Rugby, and that may well happen now anyway? Wondering what affect would many teams coming together saying "We will boycot future football until you put a video ref there?

There is also some logic into what Roy Keane refers to. For example the defence from Ireland at that time was poor in the area and no One can rely on a handball to save the day, so be on guard to prevent that goal anyhow, just in case? This applies both to the Keeper and Defenders!

Thomas Ruane
West Of Ireland
Living In St Alban's, England

Whilst I appreciate the comments saying 'get over it, nobody died'. I
feel it only right to stand up and say what happened was wrong. The
Irish team played their hearts out and 3, not 1 errors were missed by
the ref and his associates. Sport is about fair play, not winning at any
cost. If you disagree with that statement where do you then draw the
line on performance enhancing drugs etc... Young people all over the
world watched that game and saw the consequence of 'deception'. There is
no such concept as 'a tiny cheat' it's either cheating or not. The ball
to hit Henry's shoulder and rebound is one thing but to actually then
'hand' guide it towards the net!!!!!
One comment on this page asks would the Irish team have acted
differently if the shoe was on the other foot? That we'll probably never
know but I would hope they would have done the honourable thing. In this
case France were put in that position and acted dishonourably and
unfairly. T. Henry has now admitted the error but the FFF and FIFA
refuse to do so. Shame on them. Eamon Dunphy was the only panelist after
the match who evoked this sentiment.
My daughter's French teacher walked into the class on Thur. morning and
on her lap top showed the goal. She then told the class - that is not
who we French are. We do not cheat. French people do not want to go to
the World cup on the back of this match. The real irony of this is - it
is the Irish team (who lost) that are now being viewed with such pride
by many. Should France eventually go on to win the World cup it will
always be a tainted victory. Miriam Molloy

FIFA and UEFA are investigating match fixing at club level . How can an
organisation this is clearly involved in fixing matches by pressuring
referees to ensure a positive result for the world cup have credibility
in such investigations.
C Carroll Heidelberg

I am contacting you as a hurt and disgusted Irishman.In Paris on wednesday night all that is good about football was pushed into the shadows by blatant cheating,if its let stand all FIFA's calls and campaigns for fair play and respect of the rules will have meant nothing, they will be seen as no more than lies used to gain sponsorship deals to furnish the flash homes and expensively wine and dine the fat cats who run world football, the same men will be seen as uncaring about a once great sport and now are only interested in the financial gain as a result of football.

Its time to act before the game loses all creditability, the world was watching Ireland getting cheated, the world is waiting for some action, the world wants to know that the game is not being set up to allow the big countries and club sides to gain an unfair advantage over the so called minnows, who as we know play the game with as much passion and heart as the elite.

I've have read the FIFA charter and it clearly sets out what it expects from its players, officals and supporters. If these standards are to de believed action must be taken, a replay being the obvious action and if not Henry should be banned from de world cup.
All we can do if no action is taken is to never support this clearly corrupt sport or any of its sponsors again. In Ireland we have our own sports which has enough integrity and honour so that corrupt football would be no loss to us.
RAY LAFFAN, CORK CITY

I wish to voice my total disgust at FIFA how 4 officials could miss 2 deliberate hand balls and an offside offence that resulted in Henry goal. So much for respect and fair play that FIFA and Henry advocate so strongly. This game should be replayed or the conspiracy theory of FIFA favouring the "BIG" countries will remain. At the very least let this game be a watershed for some electronic technology to be employed in these important games as there is too much at stake in matches these days.

Yours in disgust,

Conor McCormack

FIFA's decision not to consider a replay is perhaps correct,
according to the rules of football (their rules, of course). However,
it will do more damage to the French National Team, who could only
secure their place in the World Cup because of a double hand-ball by
Thierry Henry. When France get to South Africa, the entire team (and
perhaps the entire country) will be labelled cheats. And that is
unfair. Thierry Henry , whilst he could not be so at the time (of the
goal), should be man enough to withdraw from the French Team. It
might go some way to restoring his reputation, although I think that
will be very hard. This world cup's dream is over. France's nightmare
is about to start!

As for Roy Keane... I think he likes to provoke and wouldn't take him
seriously. Afterall, someone who is used to walking out on the Irish
shouldn't be taken seriously. But I must admit, it is galling that he
thinks he has the right to go on telly and lambast the Irish national
team.

As for the Irish Team. Simply look to the media in Spain, Portugal,
Italy, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and even France (no need for
UK and ROI): they are all impressed with the play, the technical
qualities, and the strategy deployed by the team. Well done, lads!
Roll-on Euro 2012. Being in pot 3, with a bit of (Irish) luck, we
might draw France (and a Swedish referee!!)
Eleanor, in Brussels

We all know FIFA won't replay the game, but lets start to hit them where it hurts - financially. Lets register our disgust by starting a campaign to stop buying all products from any company that sponsors FIFA and the World Cup. Email the companies to let them know. This might put pressure onto FIFA. The main companies are; Adidas, Coca Cola, Emirates, Kia, Sony and Visa.
Glenn - Not even an Irish supporter?

I'm sick of everyone whining about this incident. Everyone in my opinion is missing one huge piece of the puzzle we missed 2clear-cut chances to pull clear and end France's world cup ambitions. To this effect, we have only ourselves to blame, forget the hand-ball incident, we could have negated this by actually scoring beforehand.

Obviously I am disappointed by what happened and in no way blame Henry, it was a natural reaction and he got away with it. Fair play to him for his reaction to the whole incident, he's a bigger man than most by admitting to it. The blame is with the officials!

If the shoe was on the other foot would we give a replay or do any different than the FFF? Of course not!!!
Paul, Edinburgh

Whinging, whining and chucking our toys out of the pram.

When will we of this great nation truly understand that, if we are to
succeed on the highest stage of any competition, that we MUST do it without
reliance on external forces and decisions outside our control. We CANNOT
rely upon the adjudication of a good, (or bad), referree, foriegn governing
body, or any other external force to win football games. We simply MUST, go
out on the field of play and, SCORE MORE GOALS THAN THE OPPOSING TEAM. Its
as simple as that.

With regard to the play offs.Ireland were simply outclassed over the two
games by a team, who, although they may not have the calibre of players that
they have had in the past, they still have the pedigree and the experience
we lack. The French stuck to their task, wore us down, and got their goal
AND they did it with some of their best players keeping the subs bench warm.
It was up to the referee to disallow the goal and it didnt happen so we have
zero comeback - those are the rules. The French team succeeded where we
failed.

Handball is not allowed and THAT IS A RULE but it must be spotted during the
game and not decided the next day. "Fair Play" is a slogan IT IS NOT A RULE.
Also, it is impossible, for any governing body to IMPOSE fair play on its
members. For fair play to succeed it is up to individuals to take
responsibility for their own actions. Quite simply every individual who
pulls on a football jersey and who plays the game at any level is
responsible for fair play NOT FIFA.

Ireland will not be going to South Africa because Henry handled the ball.
Ireland will be staying at home because they simply are not good enough. We
had our chance to win our group and blew it. We had a chance to put the
French to the sword and we blew it. Every time we have been handed such
chances we blow them BIGTIME.When we have enough class players to outclass
the opposition we will win. When we have the belief to go with our obvious
passion we will win. When we VALUE winning more than bitching we will win.
Mike Duffy

Take this following statement to the bank with you. `Power without
justice is doomed to failure`(eventually) . One idea which might
quicken FIFA's demise and end their blotted, elitist, and corrupt
egos, is for the non `glamorous`teams to pull out of F.I.F.A and form
there own world cup organization . Incidentally, I did not see any
brilliant text book football from the 'glamorous' star studded French
team, either in Dublin or Paris.
John, San Jose California

I am a proud Scotsman who enjoys visiting Ireland and all that Ireland is and offers and can honestly say that you were robbed. Blatant cheating by Henry and he can sit after the game and talk with one of the Irish players i would have given him a big French ignoration or a big wide berth or just told him what he was. Fantastic performance in France just as good as ours with Faddy's goal there which stuffed them. All the luck of the Irish for you in the future you great Emerald Isle you are.
Russell Gray

I wish to voice my total disgust at FIFA how 4 officials could miss 2 deliberate hand balls and an offside offence that resulted in Henry goal. So much for respect and fair play that FIFA and Henry advocate so strongly. This game should be replayed or the conspiracy theory of FIFA favouring the "BIG" countries will remain.
At the very least let this game be a watershed for some electronic technology to be employed in these important games as there is too much at stake in matches these days

Yours in disgust,

Conor McCormack

I think there should be no replay. Ireland have benefited from dodgy refereeing decisions during this qualifying campaign. Just think of the very dubious penalty against Georgia. Pazzini was sent off after 3 minutes against Italy for what appeared to be an accidental elbow on O'Shea. This sending off surely undermines the theory that referees favour the bigger football nations. As John Giles said if the referee wanted France to win on Wednesday, he had a great oppurtunity to give them a penalty when Given looked to have made contact with Anelka. Also if people are calling Henry a cheat then equally Robbie Keane is a cheat. He was caught handling the ball in the French penalty area during the game. People are only calling Henry a cheat because it lead to a goal. If for arguments sake, Gallas had somehow headed the ball over the bar, would anyone remember at the end that Henry handled the ball? There are so many big games now where the referees make mistakes (as everybody does), but you never hear of there being any possibility of a replay. Just think of the top of the table clash two weeks ago between Man United and Chelsea, the penalty decision in favour of Liverpool against Birmingham or last season's Champions League semi final between Chelsea and Barcelona. I think this game just reaffirms the need for extra referees beside the goals who can see more of what's going on in the penalty area. I hope they can be introduced for all games, like they have in the Europa League this year.
Damian, Galway

This is the message I sent to FIFA with the subject line of "Great Goal!"

Can we please have a short video of the great goal scored by France against Ireland in the second leg of their World Cup qualifier - preferably with some of that slow motion replay technology? I've heard Thierry Henry showed off some of his wonderful ball control in the lead up to the goal! I want to show it to my kids so they can understand why only great teams go to World Cups...

Owen - Co Derry

Roy keane who does he think he is. Walked out on ireland then sunderland and we all know who he will be walking out on soon. The interview was just to get a spat at the fai he a traitor to his county and country.

Andrew Power

Hi,
I don't know if this is the right email address, but I thought that it might interest rte to know that there is an online petition on facebook for the Ireland vs France match to be replayed and it has gathered over 100,000 members in the space of about 12 hours. It's amazing and deserves to be reported in the media.
Is there a news/sports desk that I can report this to?
Edwin

From the FIFA website :
FIFA confirmed today that the result of the 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyT qualifying match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain on 3 September 2005 has been declared invalid and must be replayed. In order to respect the drawn order of the matches, the first leg is to be replayed in Uzbekistan on 8 October 2005, with the second leg match to be rescheduled for 12 October 2005 in Bahrain.

The decision was taken by the Bureau of the 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyT Organising Committee following a formal protest from the Uzbekistan Football Federation concerning a technical error by the referee of the match.

According to Art. 12.4 (b) and 14.1 of the Regulations for the 2006 FIFA World CupT, all protests, including those against technical errors committed by referees, are to be decided by the Organising Committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyT. A bureau of the Organising Committee may pass a decision in lieu of the plenary committee in urgent matters.

The Bureau, composed of Chairman Lennart Johansson, Deputy Chairman Julio Grondona, Dr Chung Mong Joon and FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi, took the decision based on the following facts:
1) At the score of 1-0 in favour of Uzbekistan, in the 39th minute of the match, the referee decided to award a penalty kick to Uzbekistan;
2) The penalty kick was taken and led to goal in favour of Uzbekistan;
3) Before the penalty kick was carried out, an Uzbek player entered the penalty area;
4) Consequently, the referee awarded an indirect free kick to the Bahrain team;
5) However, in such a situation, the Laws of the Game require the referee to order the penalty kick to be retaken;
6) The captain of Uzbekistan team protested to the referee immediately after the mistake had taken place and before the game had restarted. This protest was confirmed after the match;
7) This technical error was confirmed by the match commissioner and the referee inspector in their respective reports;
8) Uzbekistan protested the decision of the referee in a written request, asking for the match to be "cancelled" and be evaluated with a 3-0 forfeit result;

The bureau, taking into consideration that the referee in the match in question had indeed committed a technical error, established that, as a consequence, the match needed to be replayed. As a result, the protest put forward by the Uzbekistan team for the match to be considered a forfeit with a 3-0 result is rejected. In accordance with Art. 12.6 of the Regulations 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyT, this decision is final and binding.

Michael Walsh

hi ,
can you check that controversial handball from robbie keane prior to the controversial penalty against georgia during the worldcup campaign?
i don't think the irish did apologise ??
check it out with please as i'm wandering where is the fair play there.......
regards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf9fx4ipF4Q
Stephanie Rolland

Calling all Ireland Supporters, This only takes 30 seconds to complete.

If you care AT ALL about Ireland being cheated out of taking part in the World Cup by France last night, Please, Please, click on the following link to the petition calling on FIFA to have a re-match.

For anyone who didn't watch game - & I'm sure you can catch incident on youtube - France's Thierry Henry handballed TWICE to keep the ball in play & it directly led to a the goal which put Ireland out of the World Cup....Irish Goalie Shay Given didn't even try to save it, as he knew it was a hand-ball!

Sign this petition & send it to all your contacts in Ireland & abroad - The Irish have so many friends all over the world. If they get 10+million signatures, they will have to seriously rethink it. Don't let this go.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/32214/sign.html#se
Or let FIFA know directly,
http://www.fifa.com/contact/form.html

Lisa O'Reilly

I want to say you that I'm deeply shocked and ashamed by the incident which made that Ireland was'nt qualified for world cup and France is qualified while was probably loosing.

I'm already not very much interested in Foot Ball but I will be totally desinterested of what France will do in the next matches and worldcup.

In 1982 France was in the opposite situation when defeated by Germany in semifinal of worldcup in Sevilla as the referee made 2 mistakes in favour of Germany and we French were greatly disappointed with that. So I imagine today how Irish people can feel.

I thank you to tell to Irish people that many many French people regret what happened and disconsider their foot ball national managers and also politicians who did not clearly asked to replay the match. This present situation will be heavy to face for us French.

I apologize for my bad English.

I and the majority of French want specially to congratulate all Irish supporters who have been exemplary of fair play and calm and respect.

Best Regards

Pierre
Paris

Please may I use this quick note to comment briefly upon last Wednesday's injustice. Yes it was an injustice however that's football.
As an Irish football fan and ardent Ireland supporter, totally sickened by last Wednesday night's outcome, I am embarrassed at the FAI's demands for a match replay. We must face the fact that we ended up in the play offs owing to having played too many draws and our final draw ended our World Cup dream. We had great opportunities to win the game in Paris but failed to take advantage plus we allowed the French to score in Dublin. We dropped too many points by drawing too many games during the group qualifying stage. Lets accept the luck of the Irish on this occasion - bad - and move on to support any team that takes on England in South Africa 2010.

Canice
Derry.

Hi there, while I am deeply disgusted in the manner in which France qualified for the world cup in 2010, I think that one point is being missed. There should never have been extra time played in Stad de France last Wednesdaynight. As It was a two leg match, and we only played 90min in Croke Park, then so we should only have played 90min in Stad de France, and then gone straight to penalties. Why were we made play 120mins in Paris. Were we going to play until France scored? With regard to Henry he must have been well coached in Croke park as he learned that you cant be offside while catching the ball inside the small parallelogram!!!

Best Regards, Michael


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