Kilbane calls for replay

Ireland stalwart expresses disappointment at Henry handball

Last updated: 19th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Thierry Henry Richard Dunne post-match France v Republic of Ireland World Cup play-off

Henry consoles a dejected Richard Dunne

Kevin Kilbane Handball France Republic of Ireland

Kilbane: Calling for tie to be replayed

William Gallas France winner

William Gallas nets the crucial goal

Thierry Henry Handball France Republic of Ireland

Thierry Henry handles the ball on the way to setting up William Gallas' crucial goal
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Kevin Kilbane has revealed the Republic of Ireland players want their controversial World Cup qualifying play-off against France to be replayed.

Ireland's World Cup dreams were crushed in Paris on Wednesday night as William Gallas' extra-time goal earned France a 2-1 aggregate success.

Robbie Keane's first-half finish at the Stade de France had cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's goal from the first leg and the match appeared to be heading for a penalty shoot-out.

But France struck decisively in extra-time when Thierry Henry handled the ball before crossing for Gallas to head home from close range.

The goal enraged the Ireland players and, after Henry admitted to using his hand to control the ball, Kilbane is demanding the match is replayed.

"Well, I'd like to think it would be replayed and I think everyone in the squad would like it replayed," said Kilbane.

Let down

The experienced defender added: "You see for yourself he's handballed it once and it's still going out of play so he's handled it again to make sure it doesn't go out of play.

"And you know what? I asked him on the pitch, 'Did you handball it?' and he said, 'Yes, but I didn't mean it'. But when I've seen the replay it's there for all to see that we were let down. It's a massive disappointment for us all here.

"I saw it [the handball] clear as day. I went over to the referee after the game had finished and I asked him what happened and if he'd seen the handball. He said, 'I can 100 per cent say it wasn't handball'.

"When he said that to me I knew full well that he was just lying to me because he hadn't even seen it. That was the worst thing about it, we feel really hard done by.

"It will be worse in a couple of weeks' time when the draw is made. We'll have to lift ourselves up again. We can hold our heads up high because we played so well and we should have won the game and that's the ultimate disappointment. We played so well, but we can't come back [to the UK and Ireland] knowing we're going to a World Cup in the summer."

Ireland's assistant manager Liam Brady has also urged Fifa president Sepp Blatter to sanction a replay of the tie.

Brady said: "For the dignity and integrity of football, we will go to France and play again.

"Sepp Blatter goes on about fair play - let him reflect on what happened last night.

"Where is football going if a team is cheated out of fair play? Where are we going if this decision stands?"

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Comments (42)

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Shay Deeny (Aston Villa fan) says...

Everyone is saying this happens week in, week out, but it has to stop. We can do this - we have the techology, but fifa are afraid to put these rules in place in case it ruins the essence of football. Look at rugby: video refs. It is the way forward, and the game is more popular than ever.

Posted 20:01 19th November 2009

Tony O'flaherty (Liverpool fan) says...

i wont my breath about a replay because fifa only care about making money but it would be nice for once if they did . seep blatter should ban henry from the world cup just to send a message to all football players that CHEATING will not be tollerated by fifa any more and any other player trying to gain an unfair addvantage will be dealth with accordingly please mr blatter do the right thing for the future of our beautiful game before it becomes a farce

Posted 17:12 19th November 2009

David Green (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...

I didn't hear too much talk of a replay in 1986, when Maradona punched the ball in the net. If you replayed a game every time a goal was disputed, you'd never finish a tournament like the world cup. Just suck it up and move on, because they are never going to replay that match. If you get bored during the tourney, arrange your own. Wales, Ireland, Scotland and some pub team. Know who my money would be on. Come on The Rose and Crown!. Come on England!

Posted 16:58 19th November 2009

Allan Gobey (West Ham United fan) says...

The Irish fans screaming for replays should just grow up. This stuff happens and most players who were in the same situation as Henry would have done exactly the same thing. This is no different from a player committing a professional foul to deny a "certain" goal or handling the ball on the line. Sometimes you get away with these things and sometimes you don't, Henry probably never expected the officials to miss it, yes it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth but deal with it.

Posted 15:43 19th November 2009

Sean Deane (Celtic fan) says...

A replay wouldn't open up Pandora's Box in the future if applied only to critical games such as World Cup play-offs, and only when the wrong/missed decision led directly to a decisive goal. Never expected the Irish to pull it off. They did, but were robbed by a goal in extra time that only happend because the ball was prevented from going out of play through the use of a hand. This is football at the highest level. Fair play. Make an exception and replay the match. If France deserve to go through, let them beat Ireland fair and square.

Posted 15:09 19th November 2009

Jack Skelton (Manchester United fan) says...

It's just bad luck really. Nothing more nothing less. Football is football there will always be controversy, but if we replayed every game that had a questionable decision in it would ruin football and the premiership season for example, would take about 2 years for one league to be completed due to games being replayed over and over. Deal with it.

Posted 14:32 19th November 2009

John Heally (Manchester United fan) says...

If this was England who France knocked out last night. Ask yourself how you would feel!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 14:26 19th November 2009

Kevin Mcdaid (Manchester United fan) says...

FIFA should have the backbone and drop this whole 'Fair Play' lie that they continually peddle. Football is quite possibly the most corruptable sport in the world, Incidents like last nights blatant handball and subsequent goal and the seeding of play-off places just prove that FIFA don't give a damn about so called smaller nations.

Posted 14:20 19th November 2009

David Essien (Arsenal fan) says...

We all should be fair to Henry, he is human just like us if the lrish had the opportunity they would do same. Why are we not talking about the Anelka penalty?

Posted 14:16 19th November 2009

Roger Vicarage (Malaga fan) says...

Go onto the official website of FIFA and look at the tripe they put forward as their vision which includes words such as authenticity, protecting standards and integrity. If you thought last nights game included blatant cheating leave them a message!!!

Posted 14:07 19th November 2009

Hayley Garrod (Leicester City fan) says...

As an England & Leicester City football fan, i have to say i am absolutely appalled at Henry's actions last night. He is a world class player and before last night, i had the utmost respect for him as a player, having seen him play for Arsenal numerous times. However, i think his actions last night have left him tarnished forever more. It was a disgrace and just because the referee didn't spot it, it doesn't make it right!!!! Henry has gone right down in my estimation now

Posted 14:05 19th November 2009

Ashe Yeury (Arsenal fan) says...

Guys , I have read all the comments. replay, cheated, fair .......so many strong words which sound great. But, I have questions. how many times were England benefited from cheating? How many times were Ireland too? What about if he were kean ? Would say all what you have said? let's be fair. It is football. I have disappointed for Ireland, but it's the ref mistake, it is not Frances¿. Please, stop now, think about the future. Do not make the football boring, you boring biased British media.

Posted 14:00 19th November 2009

Simon Plumb (Manchester United fan) says...

If you look right at the bottom of the fifa website there is a contact us link. I suggest we all get on there and voice our opinions at least this way they get to see how many people clearly think this event is a disgrace to the game! Henrys reputation is now beyond repair!

Posted 13:50 19th November 2009

Nicky Kelleher (Leeds United fan) says...

We were cheated out of it, nobody would be asking for a replay if it was a run of the mill game but it's the world cup. Future ranking also comes into play here and to reply to what Donovan Greenidge says about not one player on any one team would ever do that" , remember Paulo Di Canio?, he wasnt a cheat.

Posted 13:44 19th November 2009

Camillo Mortaio (Lille fan) says...

Hello I am French and I am really ashamed because Thierry Henry and the "great" French coach, Raymond Domenech, didn't apologize for what Henry did yesterday. The french team has no soul on and outside the grass... My message is for Republic of Ireland fans : I'm so sorry for you because you have great players who merited qualification to World Cup in SA! And Trapattoni is certainly one of the best coach in the world and he is admirable for his Fair play too. I want you to know that the most part of the French people is so sorry as I am today... According to me, this game shoud be replayed ASAP! Camillo

Posted 13:39 19th November 2009

James Lewis (Manchester United fan) says...

As much as I want to see a replay, I just cannot see FIFA sanctioning it at all. I can certainly remember an FA Cup tie 10 years ago between Arsenal and Sheff Utd. Wenger offered a replay as by way of an apology for unsportsmanlike behaviour, perhaps Domenech could take the first step and do the same. Having said that, if a replay is sanctioned, then every future injustice will have the fans calling for one, when really, the prospect of that is just stupid. Feel sorry for the Irish though, Henry has lost a lot of respect from me.

Posted 12:37 19th November 2009

Donovan Greenidge (Manchester United fan) says...

I know everyone is calling Henry a cheat but really, what should he have done?? let the ball go out? pick it up cause it hit is arm and then pass it back to given? come on guys this is football, it happens week in week out just not usually as glorified as this. Dnt get me wrong im not saying cheating is correct but henry is looking towards the player, to see if he will miss the ball or not, he does miss it and it hits henry arm before henry can even turn his head to see the ball, after it hit henrys arm he then reacts and luckily knocks the ball in his path, one touch, gallas, 1-1 the ref didn't see it, the linesman didn't give it and henry sure as hell aint guna stop and say " sorry ref thats not a goal cause it hit my arm" wake up no one would do that, not one player on any one team would ever do that, you ask any one of them irish players what they would've done and if they tell you any different from what henry is saying...get the lie detector out!!!

Posted 12:37 19th November 2009

Gearid Browne (Liverpool fan) says...

Guys look at the FIFA web site it is an absolute disgrace,FIFA have not even acknowledged that there was any controversy!!!

Posted 12:36 19th November 2009

Byron Baimbetov (Chelsea fan) says...

There should be a replay, because in 2006 world cup finals qualification,there was a match between Uzbekistan-Bahrain and referee made a mistake and match was void after two weeks debate and they played again,which was decided by the FIFA I hope Irish can get replay

Posted 12:34 19th November 2009

Geraldine Conlon (Arsenal fan) says...

I am very disapointed with Thierry as a Arsenal fan. He should have owned up to the ref at the time and if the ref still gave the goal then at least he would be able to hold his head up. He seemed to say to Richard Dunne at the end that he cheated, if so then i'm sickened

Posted 12:33 19th November 2009
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