On Wednesday the French national soccer team squared off against the Irish squad in a final World Cup qualifier, at the end of the game the French had taken a highly controversial victory. It all stems from French star striker Thierry Henry’s two accidental hand-balls which enabled him to corral the ball (despite also being offsides) and pass it to William Gallas who scored the winning goal for the French side.
The refs made no calls to disallow the goal despite Henri’s admission that he did touch the ball. “I will be honest, it was a handball,” Henry said, But I’m not the ref. I played it. The ref allowed it.”
The victory meant the French would be going to the World Cup in South Africa, and the Irish would be staying home. Obviously the Irish are LIVID and are asking FIFA, soccer’s international ruling body to allow the match to be replayed. FIFA’s initial response is not to replay the game. If FIFA allows the game to stand, Henry’s handball may live in soccer infamy, much like Diego Maradon’s famous “Hand of God” handball that beat the English in the 1986 World Cup.
Soccer season baby!
[Sky]
Sports can often be subjective, did that receiver push off and interfere with the cornerback, or was the cornerback the interferer? Was that a strike or just off the corner? Was the defender’s feet still moving or did they get the charge? That’s why running is such a nice break sometimes. Races aren’t subjective; there’s a line, people cross it, first one across wins. Not too complicated. So it was with great surprise that I read this 
The Slanch Report 
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