World game was already scarred before Henry

 
Adrian Musolino Columnist

By , 25 Nov 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert

Tagged:
 , , ,

56 Have your say

Related coverage



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

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.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

Get a daily football email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it.

We value privacy. More.