The Irish troops went into this game somewhat confident after their display at home a couple days earlier, and knew that they could bring home the victory in Saint Denis. Robbie Keane put them ahead on 33 minutes to put the pressure on their hosts. If
Titi has since been called a cheat, a dishonest player, along with some unmentionables by probably the entire Irish populace along with some neutrals, but the reality is that even if he knowingly handled the ball, the match is ‘policed’ by the referee. If the referee didn’t stop the play or deem the goal to be disallowed then blame should not fall in Henry’s lap. I don’t know any player in this world that would have stood up and said ‘yes referee please disallow the goal because I handled the ball’. Give me a break. Football has been littered with players ‘diving’ and trying all the tricks in the book in order to get that edge, and in a crucial game like this it was expected that more than a few embellishments would be present. It’s unfortunate that the one that counted was as blatant as it was important.
In defence of the referees, they are human as well and are just as prone to mistakes and you and me. The problem comes in when these mistakes cost a people so much. “The hand was so obvious, we're disgusted,” Robbie Keane told Eurosport, before taking a pot shot at football’s governing body. “FIFA absolutely did not want
Photo courtesy http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article6922972.ece
6 comments:
I saw this last night and I must say I have lost all respect for Henry and France for this one. It was blatant and he knew what he did. then run off like it was a great play. Refs have been missing calls for years, maybe it's time for instant review by the 4 ref or something.
I love football (till death) but at the end of the day, it is a game. Let the best/lucky man win.
Personally, I think that adding 2 much technology to the game may just suck some of the fun and flow out of it.
Jus saying.
Al you made some really good points here tho.
Kudos to you:)
Just FYI
Law 5 of the Laws of the Game state that: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final."
"The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match."
I feel for Republic of Ireland. It is a sad way to lose such an important game. But I was wondering if Robbie Keane or one of the Irish were put in that same situation, if they would be Honest Abes?
Instant replay; while it is a prospectively great tool to aid the game, would kill the flow of a match. But with the type/frequency of errors referees are making these days, it beckons.
Al gimme a lil shout on de post nah, after all I was the source. lol. Great review king.
NOTE TO ALL, IT WAS KOFI THAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION LAST NIGHT AS I MISSED THE GAME LIVE!!!!
Alice,
I was just reviewing some of your retro blogs and found the need to comment on this one and rest a bull pistle on Dell1983 one time.
Whose job is it officiate in a football match - certainly not the players....that is why players carded for complaining to or about the ref or lines persons are the most dotish! Henry did not even deny that he did it in the press conference when asked, I would not even be surprised that his 'thoughts of retirement' after the transgression was a publicity stunt after the public outcry from sympathizers like Dell1983 here, so jersey sales won't dip!
Give jack his jacket - Roy Keane's statements to the press the day after......Ireland get over it, in short, it happened - France is in the World Cup and Ireland will be like us, taking it in on TV....buy a big flat screen and like yourself! He is a realist, and although some of his decisions I have not agreed with in the past, you can count on a frank and candid account most times from Roy.
For the life of me I cannot understand why association football has not gone the route of a television match official to adjudicate on hard to call issues, it does not have to interrupt the flow of the game as it can ONLY be utilised to decide whether a goal that was scored is valid or not (as is done in rugby at present, and of course to cite foul play). Not rocket science - come on FIFA, come on Jack you're not there for your looks!
That aside, personally i would rather see the likes of Anelka, Henry, Benzema, Sagne, Riberry et al rather than Given and Keane (that also represents Ireland's grand strategy by the way - Given to Keane and hope for the best).
Anyway - that's my 2$ (I just realised they have removed the cents sign from QWERTY keyboards)
Tallcap
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