World Cup - FIFA to hold meeting over 'incidents'

Reuters - Mon, 23 Nov 18:31:00 2009

FIFA has called an extraordinary meeting following the controversy over France striker Thierry Henry's goal against Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers and the match-fixing investigation announced last week.

2009 Qualification Europe France Thierry Henry - 0

The trouble surrounding the Algeria-Egypt qualifier could also be on the agenda of the world governing body at an executive meeting to be held in Cape Town on December 2, two days before the World Cup draw.

"Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA president (Sepp Blatter) has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee," said FIFA in a statement.

The executive committee is already due to meet on December 3 on Robben Island to discuss the draw to be held the following day.

FIFA has so far refused to take any action over Henry's handball in the lead-up to France's goal against Ireland. The goal, scored by William Gallas, gave them a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 aggregate win in the two-leg play-off.

The Irish FA formally asked for a replay of the match but FIFA said on Friday it had replied saying that the request could not be granted.

The Irish governing body issued a statement on Monday saying: "Should we be asked to make any contribution, the FAI would be happy to do so for the improvement of the game."

The Egypt-Algeria qualifiers on November 14 in Cairo and subsequent play-off in Khartoum four days later was also surrounded by controversy.

Egypt recalled their ambassador in Algiers after Algeria won the play-off 1-0 to qualify and both games were marred by reports of trouble.

On Friday, German police said they had dismantled a match-fixing gang with more than 200 suspected members operating in nine European leagues.

Police in Germany, Britain, Austria and Switzerland staged simultaneous raids on Thursday, arresting 15 people in Germany and two in Switzerland.

The gang is suspected of having paid off referees, players and officials to win at least 10 million euros, with officials speculating this to be the tip of the iceberg.

Meanwhile, Henry siad he considered ending his France career over the uproar that surrounded the striker's blatant handball in last week's World Cup play-off victory over Ireland.

"Oh yes," the France captain was quoted in Monday's French sports daily L'Equipe as saying when asked whether retiring from international soccer had crossed his mind.

"Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up."

Henry has been under fire since handling the ball in the build-up to William Gallas's equaliser that gave France a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and a 2-1 aggregate win.

"It's not the first time (that I thought about retiring)," Henry added. "After the 2006 World Cup, I thought about it, but it was too early. After Euro 2008, too, but it wasn't the right moment. There was a generation that needed me.

"Despite everything that has just happened and the fact that I felt let down, I will not let my country down," he added.

Henry, who issued a statement saying a replay would be the fairest solution only after world government body FIFA said the result would stand, said he regretted the way he had celebrated the decisive goal.

"I shouldn't have done that but, frankly, it was uncontrollable, after all we had been through," he said.

The 32-year-old Henry, who has scored a French record 51 goals from 117 internationals, blamed the French Football Federation for their lack of support.

"The day after the match, and the day after that, I felt alone, really alone," he said. "It was only after I issued my statement that the people from the French Federation got in touch."

Reuters

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  1. personaly i dont care if ireland are out, france are a­ much beter team anyway and ireland have allways been­ bad losers so get over it! yous are all gypsies

    From Joseph, on Tue 24 Nov 8:51PM

  2. karen- you also smell like bull shizel

    From Joseph, on Tue 24 Nov 8:48PM

  3. To my opinion T.Henry shouls refrain from playing the­ W.C finals. Not only he's a cheat ,but also an­ HYPOCRIT.His statement calling for regrets and a replay­ is nothing but lies.Because he knew deep inside of­ himself that FIFA would never accept such a request.
    In­ fact FIFA is also responsible for the IRISH drama when­ they decided that such and such Country would be seeded­ for the playoffs . It's all about big MONEY

    From Treblig, on Tue 24 Nov 5:30PM

  4. Hi V, your comment about O'Shea kissing­ Scholes­­ after he scored with a­ wonderful handball,both­ are­ celebrating. You forgot to say that Scholes got a red­ card for this bit of cheating and sent off rightly so,­ the ref was in the right place to see him cheating. I­ agree with this statement that Henry is not any more of­ a cheat than­ any other "pro" footballer out­ there, they­ are all try to get away with things like­ this and paid big buck to do it. Only­ difference is,­ this game was a World Cup qualifier, and the world was­ watching so­ the result mattered. Bringing video refs­ into football would help, the shame about this is­ children look up to people like Henry and will think­ cheating is okay.

    From EDWARD, on Tue 24 Nov 4:33PM

  5. it looks like a token meeting so they seem to be doing­ something about cheating .They'll all be there­ patting themselves on the back for a job well done .
    As­ for Henry ,words come easy after what was a blatant­ cheat.
    He would be willing to replay the match or he­ considered retiring roll easy of the tongue and satisfy­ some media,
    but actions are better than words.

    From derek m, on Tue 24 Nov 4:25PM

  6. If people had been following the BPL and assesing the­ games fairly and not listening to the rubbish dished by­ English media then they would have no reason to feel­ sorry or be surprised by Henry's action. Anyway now­ France are in no matter what and in the end that is all­ that counts - records in histroy will say France­ qualified but will not state how.

    From CHANDRA S, on Tue 24 Nov 1:09PM

  7. serves dese french cunnts right as hell if they get­ kicked out of the world cup!! although it wouldnt be­ so bad if ireland just got into it because of what­ happened and we got put intoo frances group!!

    From bdonoghue, on Tue 24 Nov 12:49PM

  8. FIFA IS REDUNDANT
    MATCH FIXING CARTELS RULE THE ROOST­ !
    SOUTH AMERICA , ASIA , AFRICA , WEST AND EAST­ EUROPE
    BIG MONEY ALWAYS MEANS BIG FRAUD
    WORLD SOCCER IS­ ROTTEN TO THE CORE !!!
    EVER GET THE FEELING YOUVE BEEN­ CHEATED
    HA HA
    ENOUGH SAID.

    From MARK, on Tue 24 Nov 11:44AM

  9. they should rename the island : Robbed . that blatter­ idiot is treating world football like it's his­ invention . i saw a documentary with this old english­ guy that was investigating bribe at the highest level­ (don't recall his name or the name of the­ documentary. the guy was from BBC. if anyone could help­ , please do ) . it was all too clear blatter was guilty­ off all those things as he was refusing to answer­ questions and banned the journalist from entering the­ press confrences . also it explained how blatter is­ closing his eyes to what happens in football just to­ gain votes so he could stay atop of football . it's­ a REAL MAFIA just like in pretty much everything . oh­ , and i really , really ,REALLY believe Henry wanted to­ quit football . they should get the fair play sign off­ the pitch .

    From none, on Tue 24 Nov 9:07AM

  10. Thanks V

    From Roger B, on Tue 24 Nov 8:23AM

  11. Roger... i cannot give url in here. Go to Youtube and­ type "scholes handball". You will see Scholes­ scoring with an amazing handball, then celebrating it­ and O'shea coming to hug him. One english happy to­ score with his hand and one irish congratuling him?.

    From V, on Tue 24 Nov 8:14AM

  12. Roger... i cannot give url in here. Go to Youtube and­ type "scholes handball". You will see Scholes­ scoring with an amazing handball, then celebrating it­ and O'shea coming to hug him. One english happy to­ score with his hand and one irish congratuling him?.

    From V, on Tue 24 Nov 8:14AM

  13. Roger... i cannot give url in here. Go to Youtube and­ type "scholes handball". You will see Scholes­ scoring with an amazing handball, then celebrating it­ and O'shea coming to hug him. One english happy to­ score with his hand and one irish congratuling him?.

    From V, on Tue 24 Nov 8:13AM

  14. Roger... i cannot give url in here. Go to Youtube and­ type "scholes handball". You will see Scholes­ scoring with an amazing handball, then celebrating it­ and O'shea coming to hug him. One english happy to­ score with his hand and one irish congratuling him?.

    From V, on Tue 24 Nov 8:13AM

  15. Roger... i cannot give url in here. Go to Youtube and­ type "scholes handball". You will see Scholes­ scoring with an amazing handball, then celebrating it­ and O'shea coming to hug him. One english happy to­ score with his hand and one irish congratuling him?.

    From V, on Tue 24 Nov 8:13AM

  16. THEY MUST REPLAY DA METCH.

    From Donney, on Tue 24 Nov 8:04AM

  17. I FINK TERRY HENRAY HANDEED DA BALL IN THOT GAME. NOWAN­ ELSE NOTASSED AT. BUT I DID.

    From Donney, on Tue 24 Nov 8:03AM

  18. FIFA must ban Henry to join the World Cup 2010 or FIFA­ is not a consistent with their campaign for FAIR GAME­ and ANTI RACIST in the football.

    From Winata, on Tue 24 Nov 7:52AM

  19. This meeting is just to please the public.Nothing­ significant will come out of it.Maybe FA should follow­ suit for the Scharner goal against Spurs last sunday­ too

    From Michael, on Tue 24 Nov 7:40AM

  20. ok,France goes to the World Cup but Henry is suspended­ and stays out.

    From sidnei, on Tue 24 Nov 7:37AM
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