Henry: Hangs his head in shame alongside Dunne
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Republic showed dignity in defeat
TEAMtalk's Rob Mullarkey was at the Stade de France when the Republic of Ireland were robbed of a World Cup place - and applauds their dignity.
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Passing through Charles de Gaulle airport recently, I overheard one man of a certain generation describe it as Irish football's JFK moment.
Where were you when Thierry Henry handled the ball, twice, before steering it into the path of William Gallas?
Which is not only a bit disrespectful to America's cursed 'First Family' but it also seems a daft question given the vast majority of the Irish nation were either watching the match on TV, or at the Stade de France.
On the streets of the French capital on the afternoon of the game, it seemed like everybody from Dundalk to Donegal, from Killarney to Kildare had made the journey over but it's easy to confuse green and white hordes when Paris' Algerian community is out in force ahead of their World Cup play-off against Egypt (just as much passion and fervour from the North Africans, I can tell you...but without the fuel of the black stuff).
According to the local paper, around 25,000 Irish fans had made the journey to Paris but with an allocation of just over 8,000 plenty would have to make do with a seat in one of the city's Irish bars.
All of which was great news for the local economy because even at around seven euros a pint, there was no let-up in consumption levels - yet it's funny how booze doesn't seem to give any Irish citizen the urge to get riled by the mere sight of a gendarme or throw barstools in an attempt to recreate the storming of the Bastille.
I have no intention of extending the debate about the handball or whether Richard Dunne should have lamped France's number 12 as Henry attempted to kick-start the process of exonerating himself.
Neither can I be bothered to question FIFA's increasingly laughable 'Fair Play' mantra or Ireland's bold request to be installed as a 33rd nation at the finals next summer.
I am not even going to comment on Sepp Blatter's pledge to consider goalline technology and extra referees for next year's World Cup finals because that would be scant consolation for the Republic of Ireland and for Giovanni Trapattoni, who is probably still hurting after his Italian side were robbed of a place in the last eight of the 2002 World Cup at the expense of co-hosts South Korea.
Having held the World Cup holders to two draws in qualifying and having beaten the 2006 finalists in their own backyard over 90 minutes following a play-off draw that was weighted in favour of European football's powerhouses, there are those who argue Ireland have more right to be involved in the finals than most.
But it would be churlish to suggest that the likes of New Zealand don't deserve to be there because the All Whites' success in qualifying is a mere reflection of the global nature of the game and FIFA needs to be applauded for recognising that.
What I will say is that world football's showpiece has been deprived of one of the greatest sets of fans on the planet, alongside the Brazilians and the Dutch.
It's one of football's clichés, I know, but if, like me, you'd witnessed the incredible restraint the Irish fans showed at the end of the game you'd have every sympathy for a group of people who must be wondering when their next opportunity to spend a summer at a major tournament will come around.
At full-time, as the Ireland players tossed their kit into the arms of the travelling fans (well done to the much-maligned Stephen Hunt, by the way, for singling out one boy of around eight years of age to whom he donated his boots as a souvenir), just for a moment I thought what it would have been like had I just witnessed a match in which certain other nations had been on the receiving end of such an injustice.
The Eiffel Tower reduced to scrap metal? The Louvre pyramid smashed into crystals? The Arc de Triomphe reduced to rubble?
Not on this occasion. And for that reason the Republic of Ireland will be missed next summer, especially as it could well be a World Cup that could be devoid of a feel-good factor.
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Your Comments
jazza0707 (Aston Villa fan)
"When you say certain other nations, im presuming you mean England as youve also gone out of your way to mention names of the "best" supported countires and discluded England. We've been on the end of some terrible decisions in recent times and theres been no trouble."
powzer (Liverpool fan)
"Offside thats what you are. Rolling over and allowing FIFA walk all over you is not dignified. I thought the Brits had fighting spirit."
fitzach (Aston Villa fan)
"all I can say about this article is thank you!! thanks for giving us irish the recognition we deserve, for a very very long time we have been watching our national team miss out on a major tournament and we really thought this was gonna happen for us this time around but it really wasnt to be, but even though its been nearly 8 yrs since our last tournament we always cheer on our national side, never booing our heroes and always looking forward to the next game whether it be a qualifier or a friendly!!! COME........ON........YOU.........BOYS IN GREEN, COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN, COME ON YOU BOYS, COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN!!!!! "
cuchulainn187 (Manchester United fan)
"The FAI are not rwepresentative of us as a people or nation, please don't confuse the 2. Most of us have already moved on while the FAI are banging on still for financial reasons only. I repeat, don't confuse us with the FAI."
immersive (Manchester United fan)
"Two offsides and two handballs. This was an exceptional case. The FAI should be financially compensated for possible loss of earnings. The most sensible option. Forget replays and extra teams."
red_diarmuid (Manchester United fan)
"good article, will fifa treat henry in the same way as Eduardo was treated, oh thats right eduardo isnt french, isn't that right platini. but yet we will still be treated pictures of children carrying out huge banners with 'fifa fair play', total hypocrasy and a contradiction in terms. but then diving, cheating, handling it's all part of the game, isn't it???? after all every team has them, don't they??? i hope france get what they deserve at the world cup, nothing...."
Offside (Manchester United fan)
"wiseSC, I've seen several Irish posters complain about the proceedings of the Irish football association and I wholly sympathise with you. First the bitter disappointment of going out the way you did, then the outlandish attempts by the Irish football association to have a replay and, lastly, for Ireland to be given a direct spot in the world cup. My reaction is had this been done by the national football association representing my country, I'd be furious with them. Hence, it isn't the dignity of the supporters and the national team one should question, but that of certain politicians and the FAI (who manage to make Blatter look reasonable in comparison and that's quite an achievement). Sadly, they don't see the consequences of their outrageous behaviour. Cheers"
powzer (Liverpool fan)
"To the posters who still do not get it. We accept that mistakes can be made. For example Wim Kiefts offside goal in the Euro 88 campaign. It knocked us out of a semi final position and the Dutch went on to win the thing. I still drool at Van Batstens winner. You do not mind these mistakes. We saw one of the best teams of all time pick up a trophy we got over it very quickly. I have not seen that goal shown again in Ireland. This is very different. We are impying that FIFA cheated."
paddywhack (Chelsea fan)
"It makes me laugh at how quick others are to judge the actions of the FAI. If England had been cheated out of a place at the World Cup in similar circumstance I'm sure the Englist FA would be looking at any possible justice. Too many people in this world sit down and say nothing when they've been hard done by. The FAI is just pressing the matter, and fair play to them for it. We weren't winning the game when they scored the infamous goal, but we weren't losing either and had been the better team by a long shot over the two legs. It's easy to tell them to "move on" when your country qualified for the World Cup in such convincing fashion under Capello. But if the tables were turned I wonder what the reaction would've been."
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