By Adrian Musolino
November 25th 2009 @ 5:58am
Related coverage
World game was already scarred before Henry
France's Captain Thierry Henry runs with the ball during their World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer match against Republic of Ireland at Stade de France, in Saint Denis, north outskirts of Paris, Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009. AP Photo/Francois Mori
A week has almost passed since Thierry Henry ‘handed’ France a berth in the World Cup, and the controversy doesn’t seem to be subsiding. In fact the fallout from Henry’s actions has been just as fascinating to watch as the drama that unfolded at the Stade de France.
The worldwide condemnation of Henry has been deserved. It was a shameful act from a player revered as one of the greats.
But Henry is by no means a pioneer of cheating in football.
The modern game has slowly been mutilated by “the end justifies the means” attitude that has pervaded players and coaches.
With every yard they try and gain when creeping up the touchline for a throw in or throwing the ball beyond the spot on which the referee has called a free kick; every dive and wild exaggeration to con the referee; every time a play berates a referee for a call that goes against them, only to applaud a similar ill-fated decision that goes their way; every time a Sir Alex Ferguson uses the media to deride a referee, these acts all have contributed to a culture of conning.
These acts have become acceptable attributes of the makeup of football – part of the game.
Henry’s handball was just an exaggerated example of a con, on the international stage at a crucial juncture in determining which nation would be heading the game’s biggest stage. Blatant, yes, but the result would have been no different had he dived, won a penalty and sent France through from a spot-kick.
In that second when the ball first made contact with his left hand, in his calculated football brain, Henry deduced he could get away with it a second time because such acts are ‘part of the game’, the justification for the divers, simulators and the like.
Henry would have become a sporting immortal had he admitted to his handball immediately and the goal not counted.
But what player in modern sports would do such a thing?
Had he admitted to his crime, the goal been disallowed and France missed out on World Cup qualification, what would the reaction have been in Paris? He would have been chastised in his homeland. Better peace at home and international hatred rather than the other way round, perhaps.
There are few, if any, athletes at the elite level of most sports who would, in the same position, admit to such an act. That’s the tragedy of modern sport.
Socceroo Jason Culina, writing for The World Game, claims: “If you can get away it, why not? Had that happened to me, I wouldn’t have said anything in the heat of the moment and I probably wouldn’t have said anything after the game either.”
This admission would probably be echoed by many professional footballers.
Henry’s greatest folly was his post-goal behaviour.
He may have been sparred some of the hatred had he hung his head in shame rather than the indecisive actions of someone who knew they had just got away with murder.
The debate must move away from Henry’s role in the handball to how football officialdom can avoid such scenarios.
What is clear is FIFA must have an extra official behind each goal, as has been done in the Europa League this season, to, hopefully, limit such incidents.
A replay, as has been called for ad nauseam, is simply not possible in this scenario under FIFA laws, and although in principal it would be a fair outcome, as terrible as it is to admit, the precedent would be as damaging, with far greater long-term consequences, than doing nothing.
If relegated, could Birmingham not demand a replay of their EPL match with Liverpool following David Ngog’s dive that robbed them of all three points?
There are countless other examples that could be quoted here.
But FIFA can’t do nothing.
Henry must be banned from the World Cup, either from the group stage or the whole competition, for bringing the game into disrepute.
But they must ensure it is not just Henry who is made an example of but all the divers, simulators and cheaters who get away with such incidents on a smaller scale, not to mention the match-fixing controversy that has been overshadowed by Henry’s handball.
This is FIFA’s great chance to set about a change in the culture of modern day football.
To do nothing is to accept this as just ‘part of the game’ and a generation of kids will follow in Henry’s example.
In his TWG column, Culina concludes: “But he (Henry) did (it) and unfortunately, that’s football sometimes.”
That is indeed modern football.
I am in no way condoning Henry’s action by comparing it to those of a diver or the like. He is a cheat, pure and simple, and his career will forever be tarnished by his shameful actions in not only handling the ball so blatantly but also the manner in which he conducted himself after.
But he is by no means the first, or will he be the last.
A week has past and we wait for FIFA. President Blatter has, according to a statement, “called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee” to be held in Cape Town, two days before the World Cup draw.
“For the Good of the Game” is one of their favourite slogans branded about under the Fair Play campaign. For the good of the game they must act, not just with Henry but also all the other cheats.
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GazGoldCoast said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:54am | Report comment
To be fair to Culina, he also said the Henry handball was embarrassing, and he called for the introduction of extra linesmen behind the goals. As far as eliminating cheating goes, the other big option is of course the video ref, but Culina and many others think this would stop the game too often.
I am not so sure that it would. In most incidents where a video ref would be called in, the game has already been stopped. The onus would be on the ref to use the video to double-check calls rather than blowing the whistle just so he has time to check the screen.
Aside from that, one can only hope that the fallout from this Henry incident encourages more players to think twice. Thierry seems quite remorseful and even called for the game to be replayed. Maybe if Maradonna had shown more remorse years ago then Henry would not have tried the same thing. France may be going to the World Cup, but Henry will pay a hefty personal price for this.
Freud of Football said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:59am | Report comment
Flog that dead horse Adrian, FLOG IT GOOD!
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Culina’s views are really telling and I’m a bit surprised he wrote that. I wonder if he had done the same to get the Socceroos to a World Cup what the reaction in Australia would have been?
Paulo Roberto Sanchotene said | November 25th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
If you are going to cheat, please, do it well. What Henry did wasn’t a simple handball. It was just ridiculous. The first touch could even be consider LEGAL, because there are margins to say it wasn’t intentional. But the second…
By any reason, every dive (or considered dive), every handball, every agression, or every simulation should become a reason to punish or suspend a player, even (or mainly) if the referee hasn’t seen it. There are obviously “game calls”, that are too close to be sure: has he dived or been touched? Has he handled the ball intentionally or not? If this is the case, there must be no punishment.
I just can’t find any reasonable explanation that perhaps the ball touched Henry’s hand an not the other way around.
“Henry must be banned from the World Cup, either from the group stage or the whole competition, for bringing the game into disrepute“. Exactly!
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 7:40am | Report comment
It’s a bit of an exaggeration to say that the World Game is already scarred.
And it’s also an exaggeration to talk of “worldwide condemnation”.
I listened to the BBC World program the following two nights, and fans phoned in and texted from all around the world and virtually none of these fans were the least bit perturbed at what Henry had done.
The truth is that the average fan around the world accepts this sort of stuff as part and parcel of the game.
The obvious response to the concerns expressed by some is that all forms of professional football try and push the envelop during a game – and that’s true.
The key thing about soccer, for all of its bold boast as the beautiful game (and it occasionally is capable of reminding us of this bold boast) is that with only 2.3 goals scored per game, the motivation and rewards to con are absolutely immense, such that a player’s career can be focused more on that aspect than dazzling us with wonderful ball skills.
But – it’s only in places like Australia where you will find such observations – the rest of the world could not care less about that!!
keeper11 said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Adrian…are you Ray Gatt possibly??
Sweeping sockah ‘crisis’/ shame/ scandal etc headlines and negative cr*petorials are standard practise from his ilk …..
Maybe ..
you could also have quoted the reaction from French media and fans who also critisize the practise of their captain and countryman….
thats too me is a sign of healthy sceptisicm and a global succxesful sport that is capable of self-reflection and self-critiiscm..
..’our’ beloved footy codes seem never have to face such scrutiny or insight…
by all means focus on the Henry. 3 officials and FIFA for inaction….but sweeping statements like that..
….leave it for the news-limited hacks and their agendas…
David said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Lol if anyone here plays a sport i play indoor when i cheat or foul a player or the ball hit my hand dont put my hand up and say i did it. It lets ur team down if the ref dont see it then its not the players problem in imo.
The Bear said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
I heard Wilkshire’s goal against Oman was handled. If true, that’s a pity.
Tom said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
The central point that Adrian makes is spot on. Football has grown to accept the gamesmanship of its players as a part of the game, which has made it harder to sincerely condemn the worst incidents like Henry’s handball.
What FIFA should be doing is taking this incident as a sign that there perhaps there is a groundswell of discontent about this fact and start to find ways to clamp down on the worst incidents in a meaningful way.
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Agreed. They need to act or risk letting the inmates run the show
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Their was a similar article on Football 365 from John Nic which got me thinking about how much poor sportsmanship we put up with in football. I am sure it happens in other sports but I don’t really care so much about them. The other sport I watch a lot of is Rugby League and in that game their are plenty of oppurtunities to see physical harm occur to the cheaters so I still go home happy.
The cheating in Football is not enough to bother me too much but I would like the game to be cleaned up a lot. But to suggest such you get attacked for being anti football. I am not, I just think that if their was less poor sportsmanship it would be better.
We also get told their are different cultures involved …. which is true but a bit of strong leadership from Fifa on a few areas of the game would be appretiated.
Players taking their shirt of obviosly bothers some culture that Ia m not apart off or why else would they clamp down on something so harmless so they should accept we dont like abusing the Ref.
If there is one thing I could get FIFA to clean up that would be it. Players chasing the ref is a big put off.
True Tah said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:32am | Report comment
AndyRoo
in sports like league, rugby and American football, there is a sense of natural justice inherent within the game, i.e. if you do cheat, someone will be out to get you in retribution. I guess in futbol, cause physical contact is forbidden, you are relying on the referee to pick it up, but thats something that cannot ever be changed.
I wonder why futbol players do not adopt some of the post-touchdown dances done in the NFL, which IMO are a lot more creative and interesting than some skinny bloke showing off his chest. Maybe they could take dance lessons from NRL players?
Michael C said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment
To me I just reckon it’s unrealistic to leave it too much up to a single on field referee. The NRL has moved finally to 2 refs, the AFL uses 3 (and some suggest 4 might be needed – granted, larger field and more players/activity). For some reason, soccer is stuck in the refereeing dark ages.
The worst position for something to happen in soccer, is, sadly, close to goal because that ensures the worst view for the ref if he’s not able to get in decent position (not always possible). The most crucial things that happen – - generally, – - are happening close to goal.
FIx it!!
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
The difference between League and Football though in general play is that foul play tends to slow down Rugby League so cutting it out is a good thing. In football some of the most entertaining games are when you have someone that lets a lot go.
I am actually glad when I tune in to see Strebre Delovski is in charge of a game.
No qualms with introducing goal line refs
Michael C said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment
It’s a trade off though – - – it can’t not be.
In soccer the absolute given is that a wrong decision the leads to a goal (or disallowing a goal) on the basis of a Ref not being able to be in the correct position – that impact is of huge significance given the low scoring nature of the game.
General play ideally shouldn’t be impacted that greatly – - – 2 ref’s need not mean twice the number of fouls. From my perspective of Aust Football, we can look back at footage of the old VFL days with 1 or 2 central umpires and there were in many cases far more frees paid.
The directives from the Refereeing/Umpires controlling directors/coaches play a big role. Having 2 umps or 3 or however many simply help ensure that the fellow’s are given a greater chance to be in the best position, and that you can have one stationed ‘inside’ and one stationed ‘outside’. Think of an Aust Footy boundary throw in, you can have one guy boundary side and one central…..they cover both sides of the ‘pack’……and importantly, you have one ump who can actually see what the mug punter fans in the stadium on that side of the ground can see!!!!
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
From my perspective of Aust Football, we can look back at footage of the old VFL days with 1 or 2 central umpires and there were in many cases far more frees paid
That’s pretty interesting, I would have thought if you don’t see it you don’t call it….but I guess that’s not how refereeing realistically actually works.
Tom said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
I’ve always liked Delovski, but I think this season he’s been very inconsistent.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Good observation – I too have noticed that this season he has not been up to his usual high standards – it could well be because he set impossibly high standards to begin with.
keeper11 said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
..Michael..
possibly also reflects the advantage/ disadvantage ? of being a global sport versus a one country provincial one..
what do you need to make and implement rule changes in AFL/NRL?
A. Hold a meeting or two in Melbourne/ Sydney HQ’s …
B. nothing more than a few short flights and some taxi rides
B. then a call your TV media mates at 7 & ch9 ..and the DT & HS for support
“hey maaate….whatta ya think of this rule change on TV ..?
more action ..will really bump up friday night footy ratings.!.aye
Bit more involved me thinks in a sport with 200 members, dozens of national comps, lower leagues and a massive international calender of national/ club competitons involving 1000’s of matches …..
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
But we can still discuss possible best practise.
It’s like talking about different formations for the Aussie team….. we all know Pim will be playing 4 -2 -3 -1 and Holmino will be going to SA2010 but there is no harm in talking about what we would do if we were in charge.
Plus when it comes to the A league we have a bit more of a leash to trying differnet things.
I did laugh though
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
I wonder how long that leash is in the A-League? i.e. how far do the tentacles of FIFA spread in terms of the administration of little local comps?
For example, given that we play in the hottest part of the year, and that we occasionally allow for impromptu drinks breaks mid way through halves, I’ve often thought that an official 3 minute drinks break in all games might be the order of the day sometime soon.
Good for coaches – good for players – but just as important – good for the networks – introduce a three minute break – and that’s worth lots of bucks to networks – especially if you have desires to go FTA.
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
It’s still a tight leash but you can get away with a bit if you say your “trialing it”
The Head Chief of MLS is an ex NFL guy and this is his response about being asked about video replays… it’s obviously a delicate issue as even the Americans are diplomatic about changes.
SI.com: In light of the Thierry Henry uncalled hand ball in France-Ireland on Wednesday, do you think MLS and soccer should use instant replay in officiating?
Garber: At the risk of offending all those people who are the most influential in the sport, as an American sports fan who likes the fact that bad calls can get reversed, I would be a proponent of instant replay. I understand that’s an inflammatory statement, but as a personal observer, I believe the right thing should happen on the field. It seems to me that the result of a sporting event generally should a result of what actually happened on the field as opposed to having a call missed.
SI.com: Would you be willing to let MLS be a league where FIFA tests instant replay?
Garber: Listen, I don’t think that instant replay is happening anytime soon in soccer, globally or in MLS. That last comment was more personally than me speaking as the commissioner of MLS. But I do think there are things we should look at as a sport, and I’d be willing to be the test market for some of those programs.
SI.com: Such as?
Garber: A goal-line official. Additional officials on the field. Those would be two examples. Or technology that FIFA and Adidas have tested with the ball to figure out whether it has crossed the goal line.
Michael C said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:43am | Report comment
AR – - just a quick compliment to your good self as the type of Roarer that makes theRoar what it should be.
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Also of note from that interview was that the MLS next season will be 16 teams 30 rounds you play everyone else home and away.
He is keeping the conference system though on the basis it’s something of interest for fans and teams that can’t win the lot and he wants to maintain some of those rivalries by providing the trophy.
Obviously the euro snobs don’t like that and he is mindful it will be one of the first things to be dropped once his time as commissioner is over. Shows a self-awareness that most people assume Americans don’t have
On 442 one of their bloggers mentioned the unofficial Cane Toad Cup and I guess that is a good way of creating a little bit of interest for mid table teams that isn’t add more finals spots until we get to Pips idea of the whole regular season just deciding seeding.
I am sure that AFL will have the Paul Kelly cup for example nce GWS are up and running.
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Michael C – For your education and anyone else who thought football linesman were just AFL boundary umpires that did not get to throw the ball back in.
Law 6 – The Assistant Referee
Two AR’s are appointed whose duties, subject to the decisoin of the Referee, are to indicicate:
• When the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play;
• Which sideis entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw in;
• When a player may be penalised for being in an offside position;
• When a substitution is recquired;
• When misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the Referee;
• When offences have been committed whenever the Assistants are closer to the action then the Referee (this includes, in particular circumstances, offences committed in the penaly area); and
• Whether , at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper has moved forward before the ball has been kicked and if the ball has crossed the line.
In regards to fixing the current problem – from FIFA website
“All 144 matches in the group phase of this season’s UEFA Europa League will be officiated by six match officials. In an experiment endorsed by the IFAB (International Football Association Board), the customary four-man team of referee, two assistant referees and fourth official will be supplemented with two additional assistant referees who will take up positions alongside each goal.
In essence, the additional assistant referees will provide two extra pairs of eyes to monitor the game and ensure that the Laws of the Game are upheld, informing the referee of incidents of any kind that he may otherwise have missed, particularly in key areas of the field like the penalty area and its surroundings. The referee will remain in sole charge of the match and the only match official with decision-making powers.
The additional assistant referees will be positioned on the opposite side of the goal from the assistant referee – to the left when viewed from the centre circle. Using a radio communication system to relay their recommendations to the referee but without flags, the additional assistant referees will generally remain behind the goal line but may enter the penalty area when play moves towards the other end of the pitch so as to keep up with the action.”
So there you go – at the WC 2010 we might be seeing six match officials and incidents like Henry’s and Wilkshere’s have a better chance of being picked up by the officials. The level of hypocrisy expressed in the last week has reached ridiculous proportions. Football or any sport, last time I checked was played by humans not pre-programmed robots.
As a final note: Luke Wilkshere admitted after the game to handling the ball. This goal led to a result which has put Australia on the verge of qualification the Asia Cup and Oman on the verge of elimination. Why did he not admit it to the ref after he scored??. Where is the outrage?? Why are the Omanis not calling to have the game replayed??
You know why – because I know and the Omanis know that – sh*t happens.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Also because that game was not viewed by a large portion of the worlds population (including our own I might add) whereas Henry’s handball was.
keeper11 said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Apart from the sheer logistical challeneges in world football in mentioned..
it has to be said changes are also not encouraged by the fact that good ol Septic Blatter and his ilk at FIFA
spend 99.99% of their time and energy on simply shoring up their postions of power and influence ..
in between photo opps in numerous feelgood pet football projects in 3rd world countries….
( not thats anything wrong with that…..! )
mintox said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
People in every day life as in football will cheat, often driven by their weakness and inability to accept failure with dignity or a lack of belief that they can succeed without cheating.
It happens in all sports, tennis, cycling, weightlifting and athletics have seen their fair share of cheating off the field. Even sports like AFL have seen an increase in the prevalance of players acting for a free kick. It is a fact of sporting life!
For me I have no issue with players cheating, you will never stop it occuring. It is FIFA who have been slow to react to the changes in football. TV has brought endless replays to lounge rooms of the football public. They can analyse from angles that are not readily available to the referee. Yet FIFA has done nothing to take on video technology or add additional referees that could have helped in this instance.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Hmm, I think people miss the point about Henry’s blatant act of cheating. He has not scarred the games image to those already deeply in the throws of their love affair with the world game. But he has caused it untold damage in the eyes of those who either actively dislike the game or for those who are just becoming interested in it – or even hearing about it for the first time. The biggest news about football in the world is two fold, hundreds of games have been fixed in Europe, and a country has qualified for the sports biggest event by an act of outright cheating. To think that what has occured is going to be shrugged off is stupidity of the highest order. The USA and Australia are two examples of countries where this could not have come at a worse possible time. We are trying to convince our respective peoples and governments to support the playing of the games elite competition, yet the most notable thing to occur in the game during this crucial time are two acts which do nothing to enhance the sports reputation – in fact all they are going to do is give oxygen to those who wish to crucify the sport at all it’s levels. Once again we have firmly entrenched the idea that football is a game only for cheats, divers and play actors – a game that does not turn on the skill of the players, but their ability to fool the referee. If you think that is simething that can be laughed off, think again.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
General
but world wide, those who don’t follow it are in the minority.
The fans of the game, worldwide, do not give a damn about Henry’s handball.
Do fans the world over give a damn about 2nd tier games being fixed? I doubt it.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
But that is the point Pips, no one should be worried about existing fans. But one of FIFA’s goals is to advance the status of football the world over. You don’t do that by allowing the game to be viewed as a sport where the skill of the players is not as important as their ability to deceive the referee.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
General
I understand what you’re saying – but it’s just Australians and Americans who are going to think like that – the rest of the world is won over – and they don’t appear to mind the fact that a lot of effort goes into deceiving refs.
Now once again – let me say that all team sports at professional levels try to push the envelop in terms of getting an advantage for their team – so that that happens in the World game is not a big deal in itself – but the clear trend in my eyes – viewing it over a 35 year period – is that the difficulty in goal scoring has doubled in that period – so now deceiving the ref comes with huge rewards – the ability to score one of the very few goals scored per game – this is the trend I have observed which I don’t like – but the rest of the world doesn’t care – that’s very clear.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
I know that every sport involves cheating (not sure about Golf or Chess) to some degree, the role of the referee is to limit the level of success that is achieved from doing so. At the moment it is easier for a player to deceive the ref than it is for the ref to detect the cheat in football. This is a state of affairs that needs to be corrected by FIFA in order to maintain the sports credibility in those landscapes where football is not the dominant code.
With regard to Australia and the USA, or the very least the USA, don’t you think that FIFA wants as big a slice of our sporting pies as they can get? Not sure they want to actively remain as the 3rd or 4th sport in our countries for ever…
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
General – actually, your whole post can be laughed off. Its tone borders on hysterical.
Now if you had taken the time and my reasoned, thoughtful post you might come to a different conclusion
In football, you need something big to happen before FIFA gets it act together.
Yesterday, in Tuckerman’s piece. I posted the reason why FIFA introduced the simultaneous playing of the last Group Games at the WC.Now in hindsight it makes perfect sense to have the games played at the same time, but it took a scandal much worse than what Henry did against the Irish to make FIFA act. However, the victim in that matter, the Algerians, like the Irish had to cop it sweet.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Thanks Art, I was trying to be slightly hysterical – it matched in with the general tone of the replies, bored indifference or panic. Yes the Irish are going to cop it sweet, everyone (including them) knew that from the 1st second. What I am on about is exactly the same thing you desire, FIFA to actually do something to help matches to be decided by the skill of the players, not their ability to deceive.
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Yes General – If you want hysteria you should read the responses to Andrew Sutherland’s piece on Shoab’s genital warts. Funniest thread on The Roar ever.
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Now I am intrigued! The search for genital warts begins!
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Just don’t try and say it in German, General. Otherwise the German Lexicological Panzer Division will get upset and the last thing you don’t want to do is get them upset
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
I’m fascinated to see what FIFA does in this meeting. They have made a point of stressing it as an extraordinary meeting so it’s suggesting it’ll be a ruling of some kind. Pressure is on them
Midfielder said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:53pm | Report comment
One of football arguements against a TV replay is where do you start the replay..if the hand ball was six passes back… or the pass before or the shot that went in….
I think the two extra assistant refs is a great idea… But by & large you get good calls and you get bad calls … most acept that it evens out in the end…
As for Thierry, kama will get him he will maybe never be said to be a great ….
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:03pm | Report comment
Players seem to care a lot about legacies and reputations when they retire. You have to think Henry will forever regret that second as something that ruins his reputation. In that way I sort of feel for him. Like Zidane, one moment of madness and your reputation is shot.
Guy Smiley said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:53pm | Report comment
A number of people on this thread and others have mentioned that this issue is now dead and we should move on. To be fair we should only really move on when a fair and reasonable response has been initiated by FIFA. This of course will never happen as, just like the IOC, they are a disgracefully corrupt and duplicitous organisation with no love for the sport/s they run.
Henry’s cheating is not really comparable to diving, etc. The end result is the same but if someone is prepared to do something that blatant on the big stage and know there is a good chance he will get away with it, then it is genuinely worrying. Diving in the box and faking fouls are harder for refs to spot in real time.
What really gets me is the multitude of players willing to spout the ‘that’s football’ line. It’s the kind of thoughtless, mindless crap that can and will excuse just about anything. and never seems to elicit further questioning from the interviewers.
I may be swimming against the tide here but I would love to see Culina et al grilled just a little harder so they can justify their back-seat support properly. Just because journos don’t get to interview Blatter et al, doesn’t mean hard questions can’t be asked somewhere along the line.
Also I’m surprised how many Australians on this thread are so keen to abandon the notion of fair play (not in the FIFA sense of the term!) and have a go at the Irish apologists and genuinely outraged people out there. Maybe the Aussie hatred of whingers, which by and large is also a good thing, is coming into play here.
pothale said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:59pm | Report comment
Agreed Guy.
I see that FIFA have announced a “BIG MEETING’ for early December. This is to let people know they are ‘TAKING THINGS VERY SERIOUSLY’ and have lots of important people meeting in a room and talking about things.
Will anything concrete emerge from this very important meeting? I’m betting no.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
Well put pothale.
A FIFA meeting.
An even bigger farce than Henry’s handball.
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:04pm | Report comment
The fact they have labelled it as extraordinary is interesting. Might be poltical speak, but let’s hope it’s something concrete. Don’t hold your breath though.
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:01pm | Report comment
Agreed that the amount of attention this issue is getting is deserved because we need a FIFA response. However, I do agree with what the column says – diving, simulation, chasing the ref etc has created a culture in which the that’s football and trying to get away with it attitude prevails, so in moments like that Henry handballs cause he knows there is a chance he can get a way with it.
Viscount Crouchback said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:19am | Report comment
No one seems willing to call a spade a spade when it comes to the question of cheating in football. The fact of the matter is that cheating has increased as power has slipped away from the Home Unions. The English intended association football to be a robust, manly game in which sly, devious means were to be rejected out of hand. And for years, that’s exactly how the game was played. It wasn’t perfect, but it was at least honest.
But then the Latins – especially the south Americans – got in on the act and began to introduce their own philosophy to the game. This held that those indulging in diving and cheating – or outright brutality – ought to be applauded for their cleverness. Speak to an Argentinian today and that is exactly what he’ll tell you. Maradona wasn’t a cheat; he was “clever”. Thus we get the Hand of God, we get Diego Simeone winding up Beckham, we get the Uruguyans kicking teams off the park, and so on and so forth.
The only nations prepared to take a stand against cheating are the Anglos, the French (sometimes), the Italians (sometimes – they do have a chivalrous side) and the Scandinavians. The rest of world football is a cesspit and will never change, so it’s pointless even talking about it.
Pippinu said | November 26th 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
That’s the gist of my posts above – the bulk of fans the world over could not give a damn.
Those that are likely to give the biggest damn (Australians/North Americans) – aren’t really enamoured of the game to the same extent.
For this, we will pay for doing dumb things (like defenders unncessarily going to ground), until we catch up with the levels of cunning shown all around the world – we cannot compete otherwise.
All the examples you provide are slowly coming round anyway.
In fact, Towser was hounded off the Roar for expressing a very similar view a few months back – basically, in the modern age, people are capable of coming up with plenty of English examples – that’s what they call globalisation.
Putting aside joke shop blood capsules, it’s not surprising that Rugby was one of the last football codes to go professional – Gaelic football still is, and is completely devoid of this sort of rubbish.
Yes – it’s a little provincial game – but one steeped in tradition that has remained true to itself.
Viscount Crouchback said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
I agree. The English decided about ten years ago that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. And so now the likes of Gerrard, the two Coles and even a tough Scouse lad like Rooney dive like swans at the merest hint of contact. I suspect that the Aussies will do the same in due course.
Pippinu said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
some would say that Harry has been leading the charge for a good decade!!
AndyRoo said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Yep as well as being gifted he is an innovator too and that’s just another reason why much to Victorian’s disappointment Harry is our best ever modern day Socceroo and poor Dukes has to settle for “it was a thrill just to be nominated”.
If he makes a come back and we get out of the group stage I will call for a recount though.
Art Sapphire said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Pip – Towser was not hounded off the Roar. He made a complete tool of himself by espousing Anglo-European Supremacist nonsense and still thought that the “savages” needed civilising.
Sure, I am a believer in free speech. But his comments were deemed offensive and inappropriate by the people who run this site. He was not prepared to censor himself so off he went volutntarily.
He did everybody a favour.
pothale said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:25am | Report comment
You didn;t include the Irish then, VC? Sniff.
Or were we collectively included in the Anglos?
Viscount Crouchback said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:30am | Report comment
The latter, naturally. I think of English and Irish sporting culture as being pretty much identical.
Art Sapphire said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Oh woe, Viscount!! How dare these non-English footballing infidels ruin our game. According, to you the game should never have left the old dart. The sight of Gerard, Rooney and co diving around like Latin divas must give you fits of apoplexy.
Nurse – please give the “Viscount” some medication to calm him down
AndyRoo said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
There is a point in that mainstream Australia’s fair play more closely aligns with those of Brits/Irish and their colonized offspring.
But the British FA are also slow too really do anything to clean up their game or promote any fairness in their competition (money wise) so I doubt we would be any better of with the Brits in charge. They could be setting an example by cleaning up the premier league (retroactive punishment for divers) but they don’t.
Of course that would probably set them back on the field if they were playing by a different set of moral standards to the rest of the world. But Scotland and Australia are prepared to do it.