Soccer content - Thierry Henry's handball....do the Irish deserve a replay?

[jrthebassguy]

The Football Association of Ireland has lodged a complaint with Fifa asking for their World Cup play-off against France to be replayed.

Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-1 on aggregate after France won with goal scored when captain Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build-up.

Fifa insisted its disciplinary code says referees' decisions "are final".

And the situation took on a political aspect as the Irish and French prime ministers disagreed over the matter.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen called on Fifa, football's world governing body, to order a replay, saying he would raise the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a Brussels summit.

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/8368100.stm



The play seems so obvious when watching the replay that there was definitely intent involved. A replay likely won't happen though...but what do you guys think?

[anyonefortennis]

*waits for Brits to show up and ask to replay the "Hand of God"*

[Mark Wilson]

I was a ref for 8 years.

What's done is done.
There probably won't be a rematch.

[ThatGermanDude]

Not cool on Henry's part, but the decision is made. Tough luck.

[jmattbassplaya]

As a ref, I can basically tell you within 99.9% certainty that this won`t be recalled. Sucks, but those are the rules.

[Vorago]

Another reason why they should introduce video refereeing in soccergames like this.

[iamlowsound]

It should be replayed, but the likelihood of that happening is next to nil.

lowsound

[Stigs]

There's human error in every game when it comes to the referee and penalties, etc. Mistakes are going to happen in every game, although sometimes they can be hugely important like this one.

I don't think there should be a rematch.

+1 to this:

*waits for Brits to show up and ask to replay the "Hand of God"*

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Vorago

Another reason why they should introduce video refereeing in soccergames like this.

Most definitely not. This is soccer and not football. Play it as it`s called.

I don`t mean to sound too harsh towards you, but since I`ve been playing the sport since I could walk I do feel quite strongly towards it.

[Mark Wilson]

If they replay, then France should replay Italy for the world cup.

IMO.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Vorago

Another reason why they should introduce video refereeing in soccergames like this.

Yes they should, almost every sport has it now, soccers time has come.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Yes they should, almost every sport has it now, soccers time has come.

Again, no.

Soccer is fine as it is with three refs, thank you very much.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Again, no.

Soccer is fine as it is with three refs, thank you very much.

Obviously its not, if they're making bad calls.

Giving guys whos primary job is to watch for rules being broken suprior vision is logical, will lead to better calls, and fairer games.

Everything else in soccer has moved with the times and updated, this should too.

BTW, not saying this just because I'm Irish, I didn't even watch the game in question.

[jrthebassguy]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Again, no.

Soccer is fine as it is with three refs, thank you very much.

Apparently it isn't, otherwise this thread wouldn't exist.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Obviously its not, if they're making bad calls.

Giving guys whos primary job is to watch for rules being broken suprior vision is logical, will lead to better calls, and fairer games.

Everything else in soccer has moved with the times and updated, this should too.

BTW, not saying this just because I'm Irish, I didn't even watch the game in question.

Look at the NFL and most other pro sports. Even with the assistance of instant replays the refs still make bad calls, and I`d dare say they make bad calls more often than soccer refs who are without the aid of replay booths.

[crimson_basser]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

If they replay, then France should replay Italy for the world cup.

IMO.

+1203820897489732745798327409327478236489274853278 4724324

[ChiliPepper]

Originally Posted by Vorago

Another reason why they should introduce video refereeing in soccergames like this.

+ 1 that'it. manni'm drunk.

[cheezewiz]

As an Arsenal fan, I LOVE Thierry Henry, but that was SO blatant, I can't imagine how they missed the call (even ignoring he and Gallas were both offsides)

[anyonefortennis]

Instant replay would be very very difficult to implement in soccer for a few reasons:

a. Clock never stops.
b. Play is very continuous and doesn't stop a lot.
c. What is reviewable and what isnt? Offsides? Goals? What happens if a linesman stops a play calling it offsides that wasn't? Indirect kick and kill the play?
d. Do coaches have challenges? Ref reviews everything? What is taken away from a coach for a bad challenge?
e. If FIFA mandates it, all FIFA sanctioned pro leagues would need to implement this. There are a lot of very poor teams in world leagues and non televised games that would not have the necessary equipment for play review.

Allowing a hand ball to be reviewalbe in soccer would be to make personal fouls and holding reviewable in football. It would make the sport unwatchable.

Sports that are very interrupted like baseball and football (even basketball) allow for a quick and easy review process, soccer does not. Soccer is not a game of inches and milisenconds.

Leave the most beautiful game in the world alone.

[anyonefortennis]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

I was a ref for 8 years.

Hence the easy transition to moderator