Ireland ask FIFA to be 33rd team in WC

[osarusan]

However, applying that retrospectively isn't a runner. You can only charge people against the rules that were there at the time of the offence, so henry really doesn't have a case to answer in terms of a ban, even if they did place one on him, he'd win on appealing it.

I'd agree with all this (indeed I posted the same thing on the last page, so tiktok probably just stole my idea).

What will be interesting to see is if / how FIFA so to try and make sure it doesn't happen again. It's all very well to say that "there are currently no rules under which he can be punished", but FIFA make the rules, and rules could be changed or introduced so that next time, there is a rule under which a player can be punished.

However I think FIFA are very very reluctant to introduce rules whereby foul play missed by the referee at the time can be reviewed and punished by video evidence afterwards. I'm guessing that they are worried about undermining the authority of the referee (which is the reason they're so against using video evidence during play as well).

Their message seems to be along the lines that it's a shame players get away with these kinds of things, but the situation is still preferable to introducing video evidence.

[dr_peepee]

But there are other options aside from retrospective punishment , if they don't want to go down that route. Umpires? Technology etc?

There should at the very least be some lessons learned here, but no.

The level of apathy to what we lost due to the breaking of the fundemental rule of the game is shocking. It's galling. The fat **** was mocking us at one stage.

I hope the tournaments a disaster for them on every level.

[elroy]

As fans I think we have moved on from the desperation, the anger, the hurt etc that we felt in Paris that night. That doesnt mean that we have got over it or that what has happened is now ok. Our dream of a WC died that night in the worst possible fashion and for anyone to belittle that, doesnt understand imo.

The real issue here is that if the game was replayed tomorrow and Henry did the exact same thing, he would get away with it again. At the least lessons should be learned from this saga but it now looks like none will.

[jbyrne]

Could stand corrected on this one, - wasn't Brady's ban a UEFA imposed band as opposed to FIFA?

Wasn't Brady sent off in that match? As the ref took no action against Henry, the matter ends there.

was using the brady incident as an example of how a player can get a ban that affects his participation in a finals for something trivial that does not affect the scoreline or result yet a blatant cheat affects a result and gets to participate fully in the finals

[pineapple stu]

All well and good, but it's no precedent for a ban against Henry, as my post showed.

[tetsujin1979]

This is kinda the point Stu, it's time a precedent was set to deter this in the future
Put it this way - how many players do you think missed a drugs test before Rio Ferdinand? And how many missed one after?

[jbyrne]

All well and good, but it's no precedent for a ban against Henry, as my post showed.

i didnt say it set a precedent. just a comparison to illustrate how unbalanced the "rules" are

[tiktok]

This is kinda the point Stu, it's time a precedent was set to deter this in the future

Agree completely tets, but you can't pin that on Henry.

They could put the rule in, as jbyrne has suggested, to level the playing grounds between denying a goalscoring opportunity and gaining false advantage to create a goalscoring opportunity [or some such Blather for Blatter] and punish both with Red Cards. Then if the Henry situation was to pop up again, you could point to what the player had done as a Red Card offence, therefore warranting a ban, and give him a ban.

The Rule has to come first, but sure we all know how likely that is with FIFA.

[weldoninhio]

Henry handled the ball once in the match, the referee did not see it. Why should he be banned?? Robbie Keane handled it at least three times in the same match, but the referee did see these and gave free kicks, should he be banned too?? Or is it different for him because your wearing green tinted glasses??

[cavan_fan]

Henry handled the ball once in the match, the referee did not see it. Why should he be banned?? Robbie Keane handled it at least three times in the same match, but the referee did see these and gave free kicks, should he be banned too?? Or is it different for him because your wearing green tinted glasses??

Is it possible you have posted the same irrelevant point 161 times. I know you think this is a really clever point but we've all heard it now.

On the Henry decision it's a huge missed opportunity. It will be used to justify any cheating in future and shows the whole fair Play initiative as irrelevant

[Stuttgart88]

I still don't really see how they couldn't have applied the "gross unsporting behaviour" charge that they charged Rivaldo and Materazzi with, and that UEFA slapped at Raul (also for handball).

[Razors left peg]

I still don't really see how they couldn't have applied the "gross unsporting behaviour" charge that they charged Rivaldo and Materazzi with, and that UEFA slapped at Raul (also for handball).

maybe because Materazzi and Rivaldo werent clever enough to cry on the phone to Sepp Blatter about how unfair it was that they were being made out to be such a bad guy

[weldoninhio]

I still don't really see how they couldn't have applied the "gross unsporting behaviour" charge that they charged Rivaldo and Materazzi with, and that UEFA slapped at Raul (also for handball).

So if FIFA turned around and banned Henry for 3 games tomorrow, would you be happy if the said, after reviewing the game we have decided to ban Thierry Henry for 3 competitive games, we will also be banning Robbie Keane for the same offence??

[Acornvilla]

but robbie got punished at the time i.e feekick. and also didnt cost a country millions of euro and breaking countless hearts, by cheating and failing to admit it, as aparently a world renound sportsman, icon and 'rolemodel' can be seen to say cheatings ok if your not caught.. henry let the sport down.... you dont justify your point of view by repeating it over and over. its time for change thats what everyone is trying to say.
its not ok to cheat period.

[endabob1]

So if FIFA turned around and banned Henry for 3 games tomorrow, would you be happy if the said, after reviewing the game we have decided to ban Thierry Henry for 3 competitive games, we will also be banning Robbie Keane for the same offence??

You seem to be unable to seperate the severity of the offences & the actions taken by the officials.

To use the Rivaldo example FIFA fined him because it was an especially bad case of feigning injury to try and get another player sent off. Personally the punishment did not go far enough because on a world cup stage it was again a great opportunity to hand out a ban and send a message but FIFA bottled it because it was Brazil. In the same tournament there were loads of other dives that went unpunished beyond a fee kick but FIFA did not need to act on these because they had acted on the worst offender(s).
You pick the most blatant offenders and punish them severely, it sends a message to the wannabe’s but as an English friend said to me, International football is like the premiership, its run for the big boys who are most marketable & can bring in the most cash.

[jbyrne]

Henry handled the ball once in the match

actually 3 times in about 1 sec if you look closely enough

[Stuttgart88]

Words fail me Weldoninhio.

[Junior]

I didnt want Henry banned.

I did want FIFA to take the opportunity to ensure this doesnt happen again.

They didn't.

[elroy]

So basically if any of you guys are coaches, you should now train the kids to handle the ball where at all necessary because they may gain an incredible advantage that will not be punished.

[tetsujin1979]

So basically if any of you guys are coaches, you should now train the kids to handle the ball where at all necessary because they may gain an incredible advantage that will not be punished.

that does seem to be the message Blatter is giving doesn't it?
From absolving him of the foul, and then commenting that he himself bent the rules as a player, he really doesn't seem to be aware of what he's saying and what it means to football fans in general