Seen above is the skipper of France,Thierry Henry reacting to the shouts of the opponenets for handling the ball after France scored that controversial goal.On last Wednesday soccer match between Ireland and France created a sensation on and off the field when France skipper Thierry Henry handled the ball in the goal area facilitating his colleague William Gallas to score an equalizer and thus pave the way for France to qualify for the next year’s World Cup tourney in South Africa. France was lucky to get this equalizer in the dying minutes. Watching from the TV and agreeing with the confession of Henry, it was a clear handball; Henry has clearly stopped the ball with his left hand though it may not be an intentional handling. Such incidents thru instinct do happen while you are deeply engrossed in the game. It happened to me once in 1971 at Campal ground in Panaji during the inter collegiate final between Dempe College and Xaviers.
I was playing for Xaviers as a deep defender and only 3 minutes were remaining for the final blow by the umpire who was showing lot of bias against Xaviers. It looked the final was going into extra time. While I was guarding our citadel, near the penalty area, suddenly the ball came in front of me. Since, I was unable to head it, instinctively my hand went out for it and there the referee blew his whistle and from the resultant penalty kick, Machado of Dempe College scored the all important winning goal. Next day everywhere especially in our College my name was tarnished saying Veronica did the penalty purposely to favour Dempe. But it was not correct. However, the damage to my credibility was already done and it was seen more from the anger of Xavierite girls who earlier were treating me like a hero but because of this unintentional penalty they started treating me like a zero. Moreover, one of my girlfriends who promised me to accompany for the movie the next day at Alankar, Mapusa, by bunking morning lectures, was so angry at me that finally she dropped the idea of joining me at Alankar creating strong disappointment in me.
During those days, a soccer match between Dempe College and St. Xaviers College means like a war between India and Pakistan. The student spectators from both the Colleges would shout and encourage their respective players vociferously. Defeat means a big setback and in this final supporters of Xaviers were deeply hurt and for their hurt feelings they made me responsible even though because of my great game on that day Dempe missed at least 3 goals
Maradona in 1986 World Cup also committed such a foul when he handled the ball and scored the first goal of Argentina against England. Though it was a clear handball for Maradona yet he never admitted that he handled the ball, he pretended as if he carried the ball thru his head. It was very difficult for the referee to judge that was a handball but Maradona philosophically said after the match that “it was the hand of God and head of Maradona” that created the whole magic. Maradona knew what the truth was but he never openly and publicly confessed it while Thierry Henry immediately after the match against Ireland clearly and openly admitted that he handled the ball but he said he was not the referee to point out the infringement.
By all means every team and every player wants to win the match and if the referee has given this victory to France on silver platter, then why Thierry Henry and France refuse this victory which is so essential for them? After all, soccer World Cup is the most prestigious sport in the world and every footballing nation loves to play in the World Cup, including France a gigantic footballing nation in the world.
After the match people called Thierry Henry a Thief but was he a real thief? I don’t think so. Handball is part of the game and Henry’s handball was not something unusual. On the contrary he should be applauded for admitting his mistake frankly but corrective method was not in his hand. If law permitted replay, it would have been fine for Ireland and for Henry as well but France refused to accept this proposal. The best course for Ireland would have been to claim handball very forcefully before restarting of the match after scoring the equalizer. Ireland players should have strongly insisted with the referee and Linesman too to reverse the goal.
In 1982 World Cup in Spain when Kuwait noticed that the goal scored against them was wrong, the Kuwaiti players insisted with the Russian referee to reverse his decision and they succeeded in their claim.
In 1982 World Cup in Spain when Kuwait noticed that the goal scored against them was wrong, the Kuwaiti players insisted with the Russian referee to reverse his decision and they succeeded in their claim.
Meantime, the President of France Sarkozy in his message to the Premier of Ireland, Brian Cowen offered his apology for the controversial goal that sent France to South Africa next year but disagreed for the replay and went further telling the Prime Minister “don’t ask me to substitute for the referee or the French football authorities or the European football authorities, leave me right where I am”.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
