Henry admits using his hand to qualify France

[ian1964 10,761]

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -France striker Thierry Henry admits he intentionally handled the ball to set up William Gallas' equalizing goal, sending France to the World Cup at Ireland's expense after an intense 1-1 draw on Wednesday.

 

With Ireland leading 1-0 and the match level on aggregate deep into the first period of extra time, France won a free kick and Henry twice handled the ball - stopping it going out of play, then controlling it - before setting up Gallas for a header.

 

After the match, the Barcelona striker said, "I will be honest, it was a handball. But I'm not the ref.''

 

After winning 1-0 in Dublin on Saturday, France won 2-1 on aggregate, and will play in its fourth straight World Cup.

 

Ireland failed to qualify, as in 2006

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/11/18/2080.ap.soc.france.henry.0136/index.html#ixzz0XGWZhFKW

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/11/18/2080.ap.soc.france.henry.0136/index.html#ixzz0XGIP8pKW

 

:)

[Gazza_8 233]

He couldn't exactly deny it could he? Talk about blatant.

 

Loved it though.

[johnnyk 158]

great handball

[alexscottislegend 2,378]

Much as I loved it, I can't help thinking how I would have felt if it had happened to Scotland. IMO it was worse than the Maradona thing for two reasons:

1) Argentina scored a wonder goal after the incident to show the better team won anyway;

 

2) This one happened far too near the end of the game realistically for anything to change. Cruel. But glad RoI, made up as they are of impostors under the grandparents' rulings, are out.