Video To Kill The Cheating Stars

The time has come for FIFA to dig their heads out of the sand and turn to technology.
Thierry Henry’s blatant handball against Ireland could have so easily have been avoided.

I don’t support the concept of going to the ‘third umpire’ for every decision – but for moments that can change the whole landscape of world football such as this, it’s time to use the technology we have available.

Surely a system by where the cameras could be consulted on crucial decisions – say red cards, and goals, and that’s it – wouldn’t hold up the game too much, and would eliminate the kind of farce we saw at Stade de France on Wednesday night.

As for a replay – well, it isn’t going to happen. Refereeing mistakes happen all the time and teams just have to life with the consequences. But it should never have got to that.

What will stick in the throat of Ireland fans is Henry’s elaborate celebration, running behind the goal shouting at the crowd, before making a half-hearted attempt to console Ireland defender Richard Dunne at the final whistle.
Dunne must have extraordinary self control.

And what’s possibly more frustrating is that Henry admitted he handled the ball after the match, and then said he didn’t mean it. Pictures don’t lie, Thierry.

I have heard Thierry Henry’s reputation described varyingly as ‘squeaky clean’ and ‘impeccable’ in the last two days - both of which are, sadly, for a man so talented, complete nonsense.

He has staged and dived before looking for free kicks or penalties for club and country, famously clutching his face when body-checked by Carles Puyol at the last World Cup.

It is perhaps the most frustrating thing about modern football: that the world’s best players, such as Henry, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alberto Gilardino, Didier Drogba - the list goes on as far back as Diego Maradona and the 'Hand of God' in 1986 - feel the need to cheat rather than depending on their clearly superior ability.