France cheat way to world cup
Last Updated on Sunday, 22 November 2009 22:59 Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:22
France have cheated their way to the World Cup in 2010 after a deliberate handball from French player Thierry Henry that was missed by the referee. Comparasions to Maradona's 'Hand of God' abound and it's only fitting that Henry should go down in history as one of the great cheats of all time.
Handling the ball to prevent it going out of play just next to the goal allowed Henry to pass it across the goal mouth to William Gallas to bundle it home. Not only was Henry off side at the crucial moment, his handball cheating ways mean France go though and Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup.
Henry has admitted to handling the ball, but in cowardly fashion is insisting it was up to the referee to spot it. Could you be more spineless than that? Hopefully everywhere this cheater goes he'll be met with a chorus of boo's from all fans of the sport.
Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni is more diplomatic than us in refusing to call Henry a cheat. But it's about time some serious decisions were made by FIFA. Their 'fair play' programme is a joke and today they even stand accused of pressuring referees and fixing playoffs to ensure the larger teams go through. It's all about money now, the heart of the game is gone.
In September, FIFA announced the draw for the playoffs would be seeded. Liam Brady, assistant Manager of the Irish team said "With the draw Fifa wanted France and Portugal to go through and that's what happened, You saw the goal and that's enough said. It's a bad day for football. When it comes to the crunch, the big teams always seem to go through."
When it comes to the crunch, little will change. FIFA will get it's big teams through, more money will be spent by gullible fans who swallow everything FIFA does and the game dies that little bit more.
For one, I'll be boycotting Gillette products. If they want to hire a cheater to promote their products, off with them. Not one hard earned penny of mine will be going to a spineless cheater who's just killed off the game of soccer one tiny bit more.
