Irish lodge official complaint over Thierry Henry handball

FAI says FIFA ordered replay in disputed 2006 play-offs

KELLY FINCHAM,

IrishCentral.com Editor

Published Thursday, November 19, 2009, 10:30 AM

Updated Thursday, November 19, 2009, 12:37 PM

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French toast: Thierry Henry hand ball which led to William Gallas' goal in extra time to send France to the 2010 Fifa World Cup

The Football Association of Ireland has lodged an official complaint with soccer's governing body FIFA over the controversial handball by Thierry Henry which dumped Ireland out of the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup.

And the FAI has cited precedent for the game to be replayed.

The play-off between Uzbekistan and Bahrain for the 2006 World Cup had to be replayed after FIFA said the referee had made a "technical error" after awarding a penalty

Now, the FAI hopes that FIFA will again award a replay.

"The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself,'' the FAI said.

Assistant Irish coach Liam Brady and Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern have both called for the game to replayed.

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PaddyDeMucker | Nov 23, 2009, 07:35 PM EST

The Irish Justice Minister expressed his outrage to FIFA. FIFA must be trembling in their boots just like Irish criminals when Dermot Ahern announces zero tolerance.

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jacersisityourself | Nov 20, 2009, 04:54 PM EST

The anger at the injustice of all this is sweeping all around the world. Amongst the complaints there are calls for boycotts of all things French - boycott French Fries, Bread rolls, Onion soup, French kissing too...

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PaddyDeMucker | Nov 19, 2009, 08:26 PM EST

As a poster on The Times website observed had the supporters involved not been Irish, this incident could have caused riots in the streets.

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PaddyDeMucker | Nov 19, 2009, 07:43 PM EST

Didn't get to see the match yesterday so thank you Irish Central for the video of Senor Henry's transgression. A replay is the only remedy for this outrage. Henry's claims that he didn't mean to do it are without foundation.

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jacersisityourself | Nov 19, 2009, 03:29 PM EST

Nah, irishathens – it’s not called by the French words you use – it’s called “The Hand of Gaul”. I believe FIFA has a case to answer to the FAI’s complaint and call for a replay. Look at it this way... If the incident had happened at the other goal end (in favour of the Irish), you can be sure the French would call for a replay. And they would get it! >>> Justice must be done for the Irish players who’ve shocked the soccer world by their improving brilliant late charge under Trappatoni - to be so near, yet so far away from South Africa. ‘Cheated’ by a referee’s errant decision when so much was at stake is the only word FIFA must look at, with its own ‘Fair Play’ motto looming large in its mind. The precedent has been set in FIFA’s own decision re an Uzbekistan vs Bahrain match, where a ref’s decision was ruled a ‘technical error’ and a rematch ordered.

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irishathens | Nov 19, 2009, 12:37 PM EST

I watched the match here in Athens Greece. For the 1st time I really understand how the English felt when Maradonna did the same...Is the now famous hand of God going to become the new "Le main de Dieu"...Everyone here agrees to keep their integrity FIFA should decide to replay the extra time period in a neutral ground.

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