World Cup Play-Offs

[Dirk Gently]

I think it's about time the Irish FA accepted that what happened on the field of play will never change, and cannot be changed due to the following fundamental quote in the Laws of the Game (the laws that the Irish FA surely must accept if they are to be affiliated to UEFA and FIFA?):

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal has been scored, are final.

Yeah. But I still think that France should be thrown out for cheating, but Ireland shouldn't replace them. In fact, nobody to replace them.

Anyone remember Yugoslavia getting thrown out of the Euro 1992 championships cos they were at civil war and Denmark replaced them? I know it's a different situation, but a country getting thrown out of a major tournament has happened in the past, so why not?

There's a world of difference between a country being expelled from FIFA/UEFA because they're at war and don't actually exist any more and a country being expelled from FIFA/UEFA for cheating.

If the latter happened, then there'd be precisely zero teams at the world cup.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

FFS Spacey - give it a rest

[Archie's penalty]

I think it's funny the Irish have done this but I also applaud them.

Fifa is going to get rid of the playoffs due to incidents like this.

[Gus the teenage cow]

The clueless prick doesnt have one.

not sure why you want an explanation why you are such a total and utter bullshitting cock from the Duke of Edinburgh, nothing to do with him m8

oh and for the record, i am long over this- the FAI are delusional morons asking for us to be allowed enter the World Cup, an astonishingly bad decision went against us but there was no conspiracy, i was angry at the sheer incompetence of the officals for a day or two and i also felt sorry for the players who had put in a gargantuan effort against all odds

99% of people in Ireland have let it go and think the stance of the FAI is cringeworthy, still I can't stand that fat smug slug Blatter and anything that embarrasses his tenure is fine by me

as for this thread,it's the snarling little englanders that keep fueling it, i say to them "get over telling the FAI to get over it", you're as bad as each other

[Royal With Cheese]

Let it go Gus.

You'll feel a lot better for it.

[FiNeRaIn]

the snarling little englanders

I enjoyed that.

[Thaumagurist*]

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/465/fran ... punishment

FIFA Considering Thierry Henry Handball Punishment
Blatter reveals that sanctions could be enforced against striker
Nov 30, 2009 3:38:33 PM

FIFA have announced that they will decide on Wednesday whether to punish Thierry Henry for the striker's handball against the Republic of Ireland.

President Sepp Blatter has revealed that the extraordinary meeting of the executive committee, called for after a variety of problems plagued recent World Cup qualifiers, will discuss possible sanctions against the Barcelona striker.

But Blatter did not say whether the Frenchman would face a suspension despite uproar from the Irish FA.

The striker called Blatter to discuss threats received from enraged fans after using his left hand to keep the ball in play to set-up William Gallas whose goal put Ireland out of the competition.

Blatter has responded by suggesting that more should be done to prevent foul play going unchecked, and turn the tide against the systemic bending of the game's rules.

"There is a lack of discipline and respect in the game by the players because they are cheating by playing with the hand, pulling shirts and diving," he said.

"We have to fight against that," Blatter said at the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg, but again was averse to introducing video technology for all but goal-line decisions, stating that the game had to retain its "human face".

Blatter suggested that oversights such as Henry's handball could instead be seen by two linesmen placed behind each goal, as trialled in this season's Europa League.

"We will have to see if this is feasible and whether it is realistic," he said.

He also called for his organization to take tougher action to crack down on dissent and cheating by players, to give the game greater parity and accountability.

"One billion people are indirectly involved in our game," he said.

"Those that have the highest responsibility are those exposed by the television cameras, but also because they take the highest amount of money.

"They must have a responsibility. This is the appeal I will make to the executive committee, otherwise I will do it alone.

"We have to take responsibility to make sure Fifa's World Cup in Africa will be played according to the rules of the game and the sprit of fair play," he added.

"We have six months to show to the world that we have changed because of what has happened in the last [qualifying] matches of the World Cup.

"If we are not able to do so, we will put our papers under the desk and go home. We must do it."

Furthermore, in light of events in Paris, and incendiary clashes between Egypt and Algeria and Uruguay and Costa Rica, Blatter suggested that sudden-death play-offs be scrapped for the next World Cup qualifying campaigns.

"There is too much at stake and football is so important," he said.

"To be qualified or not qualified is so important. To determine qualification by one match only … we have to look at that."

So, what punishments do they have in mind? Throwing him out of the world cup? Or something as lame as fining him a million dollars?

[TFF]

I hope that's not true.

Any retrospective 'punishment' would be totally wrong. The handball should have been dealt with on the pitch but once the officials missed it the incident is over. Dealt with.

[Stranded]

^^

What he said.

[Thaumagurist*]

I still think something has to be done in the name of fair play. They can't just do nothing about it.

I've just remembered that Leroy Lita got suspended after a Charlton game for alledgedly headbutting an opponent and this was done by video evidence. Why not this one?

[TFF]

I still think something has to be done in the name of fair play. They can't just do nothing about it.

I've just remembered that Leroy Lita got suspended after a Charlton game for alledgedly headbutting an opponent and this was done by video evidence. Why not this one?

There is plenty of precedent for retrospective punishment of violence or serious foul play if missed by the referee.

Technical infringements are a whole different ball game.

[Thaumagurist*]

In my opinion, Thierry Henry's handball was serious foul play.

[handbags_harris]

In my opinion, Thierry Henry's handball was serious foul play.

No Spacey, handball doesn't endanger a player's safety. Roy Keane on Alfe Inge Haaland was serious fould play. Shane Long on the Derby bloke was serious foul play. Thierry Henry's handball against France was unsporting behaviour and should have been dealt with by awarding a direct free kick to the Republic of Ireland and showing Henry a yellow card. Any further sanctions are contrary to what is stipulated in FIFA's Laws of the Game, similar to Eduardo's dive earlier this season.

[Thaumagurist*]

Yellow card? How can that be right? If a defender prevents a goal scoring chance by handballing on the line or something like that, he'd be off. However, if an attacker handles the ball into the net or something like what Thierry Henry does, it's only a yellow card. Both are instances of serious cheating. Why the different punishments?

[papereyes]

Yellow card? How can that be right? If a defender prevents a goal scoring chance by handballing on the line or something like that, he'd be off. However, if an attacker handles the ball into the net or something like what Thierry Henry does, it's only a yellow card. Both are instances of serious cheating. Why the different punishments?

because he's French.

[Stranded]

Yellow card? How can that be right? If a defender prevents a goal scoring chance by handballing on the line or something like that, he'd be off. However, if an attacker handles the ball into the net or something like what Thierry Henry does, it's only a yellow card. Both are instances of serious cheating. Why the different punishments?

It's a massive world wide conspiracy to piss you off.

[Silver Fox]

LOLz @ Spacey and gus, the world's worst tag team

BTW having read on here yesterday about IreLOLand asking to be a 33rd team I was intrigued to see the press conference where Blatter mentioned it on SSN, there were ALOLs all around to say the least

[6ft Kerplunk]

If Blatter thinks your idea is stupid you know you've gone too far. Have SSN got live scrolling updates on the FAI President holding his breath until he gets what he wants?

[prostak]

Yellow card? How can that be right? If a defender prevents a goal scoring chance by handballing on the line or something like that, he'd be off. However, if an attacker handles the ball into the net or something like what Thierry Henry does, it's only a yellow card. Both are instances of serious cheating. Why the different punishments?

How is it possible to simultaneously comprehensively know the rules of the game yet totally fail to understand them?

[weybridgewanderer]

Thierry Henry's handball against France was unsporting behaviour and should have been dealt with by awarding a direct free kick to the Republic of Ireland and showing Henry a yellow card. Any further sanctions are contrary to what is stipulated in FIFA's Laws of the Game, similar to Eduardo's dive earlier this season.

precendent has been set for situations of unsporting behaviour

Lithuania midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas has failed in his bid to overturn a two-match ban from UEFA for diving.

UEFA's appeals body announced on Thursday it was backing the original sanction handed down by its disciplinary body last month.

Mikoliunas was given the ban after television replays showed him diving to win a penalty during his country's 3-1 defeat in a Euro 2008 qualifying match away to Scotland.

The disciplinary body's landmark decision was the first to be taken under regulations dealing with incidents of cheating that are missed by match officials.

I suspect that Henry could be done for deliberate hand ball and issued a retrospective suspension