By Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star editorial board columnist
The Irish knew the Frenchman had cheated. The Frenchman admitted he'd cheated. The millions who were watching on television very clearly saw the cheat.
And there are even videos, looping videos, that show the brief (two seconds) of cheating, again and again, all over the internet.
So, what should happen? Right now, the official world body of soccer, FIFA, are dismissing the idea that anything should happen. Cheaters, it seems, sometimes do prosper.
Really? Seriously? How hard a call can this be?
If you haven't seen or heard about the play in question, here's a quick recap: Thierry Henry, a French goal-scorer and generally classy guy, had a ball come at him about waist high late in a game against Ireland. Maybe six or seven yards off to the side of the goal, he wasn't going to be able to stop the ball legally.
So, instead, and in view of everyone, he stuck out his left hand, dropped the ball onto his foot, and delivered a picture perfect pass to a teammate in front of the goal, who scored.
The goal was the difference between Ireland getting to fight on in an attempt to make it to the World Cup in South Africa, and France getting to book their rooms and plane tickets.
It came in extra time in Paris, and it meant France and Ireland tied 1-1, after France had won the first game of the two game playoff to qualify for the World Cup 1-0.
For French football, it was a sleight of hand that will net them tens of millions of dollars. The French Federation doesn't really care, in that case, for fair play. Fraternity and equality, apparently, don't really matter if it messes with the liberty to pick up a pile of cash.
Bizarrely, FIFA, though, agrees. They've dismissed the plea for a rematch. Irish eyes, on this one, are not smiling.
For his part, Mr. Cheaterpants, Henry, admits he cheated, and agrees that a replay would be a fair thing.
"Naturally I feel embarrassed at the way that we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa. Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control."
But, really, this talk of fair play is a notion for the school yard, isn't it? It doesn't matter what the sport is, or the venue, the idea of fair play has long since been supplanted by greed in sport's highest levels.
In the end, it's a good lesson to teach the kids. In real life, the bears rip Goldilocks to shreds.
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I understand what your
saying but the reason for the refs is as follows:
1. The clear offsides of two players was missed by the line judge, before the hand ball. Also he appeared to have a line on the hand ball.
2. The ref was in a terrible position, a rookie mistake and does not deserve to be on the pitch with those players.
As for henry he did a number of things, and it is not unusual for a red card to be issued after a game for such a blatant offense. But also:
1. He denied doing it on purpose, then admitted it later. They are professional soccer player, it is not instinct for them to use their hands and he did it twice.
2. It was a World Cup qualifier, not a game in the middle of some season. This is why I oppose the red card approach, though I could probably understand it.
3. Pride of the nation, don't discount how important this is to both countries.
4. Integrity of the game.
But as you may have noticed, I'm kind of a hard ass when it comes to tradition.
my what an interesting post
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As with any sport
often mistakes and intentional mistakes can be spotted. You can replay every game, it would never end. Even with replay you have this kind of thing happen every game, though not every game is as important as this one was. You missed the both henry and the person who scored were also off sides.
The lesson for the kids should be simple at this time.
1. FIFA should ban henry for four games and issue a fine.
2. FIFA should suspend the referee and line judges involved from all World Cup and other top tier games for two years, then re-evaluate their qualifications at that time.
3. FIFA should award a cash settlement to be paid to Irish soccer (maybe for youth programs) from the french soccer association.
Thus the lesson of cost versus benefit can be learned. The french could win the World Cup and still be treated like they failed.
BTW this is not nearly as bad as the New Mexico female soccer player against BYU.
Soccer bores me.....but I disagree Woody....mostly
The lesson for the kids should be simple at this time.
1. FIFA should ban henry for four games and issue a fine.
2. FIFA should suspend the referee and line judges involved from all World Cup and other top tier games for two years, then re-evaluate their qualifications at that time.
3. FIFA should award a cash settlement to be paid to Irish soccer (maybe for youth programs) from the french soccer association.
4) BTW this is not nearly as bad as the New Mexico female soccer player against BYU.
1) Why should Henry be banned at all? He made an instantaneous, almost involuntary, reactive move......and admitted that he had done so.....in essence he did nothing wrong.
2) FIFA should not suspend the officials. They called it as they saw it. No official can do more.
3) While Ireland definetly got screwed I do not believe that the "rules" of FIFA have a provision for anything other than the outcome as it exists. That is not to suggest that they should do nothing.
What FIFA should do is pull their collective heads out of the sand and get in the 21st century. Even the stoics who run baseball have finally adopted some replays .....with more on the way this off season as a result of some godawful calls in the postseason.
The average soccer game has about 5 goals a game.....fewer in these high level types of games. A simple review of each goal scored ( it should be routine....every goal) should take place...call it validation review...problem solved.
4) I completely agree that the UNM gal should be banned for life by the NCAA.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.