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Hansson - Life must go on
Play-off ref hopes he can survive backlash from 'Henry handball'
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 20th November 2009 
Hanson: Breaks silence
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Referee Martin Hansson has broken his silence over the Republic of Ireland's controversial World Cup play-off by declaring that 'life must go on'.
The official and his linesman both failed to spot France striker Thierry Henry blatantly handle the ball in the area, twice, before he crossed for William Gallas to make the scores 1-1 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.
Television replays show that Hansson, who was having a decent game up until then, appeared to have his view blocked but the linesman allowed the goal to stand despite having a clear view of the incident.
The Swede has up until now remained silent over the situation but believes that fans should now get over the incident with Fifa ruling that a replay is out of the question with the referee's ruling final.
"I cannot comment on the game itself but life must go on and I hope I will survive this too," he told Swedish radio station Blekinge.
Despite the horrendous gaffe reports suggest that Hansson is still in line to be named among Fifa's list of referees for the World Cup in South Africa.
"Really? Has it been in the evening papers? Well, then it has to be true, hasn't it?" he added with just a hint of sarcasm.
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| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | England | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | Slovenia | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Algeria | 3 | 1 |
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Comments (22)
Noel Bailey (Manchester United fan) says...
I quite like the fact that every person that recommends that the Irish fans and the FAI "Move on" with their lives, happen to be members of Fifa - or French. It's very easy for them to say it. They got away with it and proved once again that under the current FIFA regime, "Cheaters do prosper". With Sepp Blatter not in his prime anymore, Platini is certainly the future and I for one am not looking forward to any reign of his.
Posted 15:19 20th November 2009
Jj Flynn (Portsmouth fan) says...
football is a joke just like FIFA, an this is now another reason to hate the game i used to love!
Posted 15:10 20th November 2009
Alex Mulaki (Manchester United fan) says...
Its time FIFA has to wake up on the refereeing blunders
Posted 15:06 20th November 2009
Karl Schwarz (Chelsea fan) says...
when referee's make this kind of mistake at this level shouldn't we investigate the possibility of 'foul play'? It is way too easy for matches to be manipulated by the referee, and referees are manipulated by large sums of money and threats of physical violence. Wake up FIFA, something must be done to stop the corruption of officials and to protect the spirit of fair competition.
Posted 14:58 20th November 2009
Nick Flavin (Liverpool fan) says...
Doesnt seem he is that bothered about the whole thing.Shame he doesnt seem to understand that was the last chance for some of our players to play in a world cup.at least he gets to go!!!probably will be hand picked by platini to ref the french games.
Posted 14:58 20th November 2009
Roy Mason (Manchester United fan) says...
I feel sorry for Hansson because I thought he made all the decisions right up until the dubious goal, and he couldn't have possibly seen the handball with so many bodies in the way . If anyone should take the blame, it's the lineman who had a good view of Henry. He should have gone to specsavers and Ireland should be going to South Africa
Posted 14:54 20th November 2009
Sean Boyle (Manchester United fan) says...
its quite a coincedence that fifa change the rules a few days before the play-offs were decided. When you think that france missed the big teams because of it and then this happen. joe's right i smell a few rats within fifa. no wonder the games so corrupt, with a govern body who cant even come out with a apologise about what happened. A replay will never happen, thats understandable but common courtesy isnt. Football is a disgrace.
Posted 14:54 20th November 2009
Kieran Mc eleney (Manchester United fan) says...
He didnt even apologise
Posted 14:54 20th November 2009
Terry Flynn (Liverpool fan) says...
I think the whole of the footballing world apart from grumpy old Roy Keane and that french man Sepp Blatter want this game to be replayed. Or penalty's behind closed doors, something, anything has to be done. This cant just be ignored. Henry put his country in the world cup with his hand for heaven's sake! I'm Irish and it still has'nt sunk in yet. Its easy for the ref to say "life must go on" but not seeing Ireland in the world cup because of this diabolical mistake is going to hurt for a long time. Imagine if France won the world cup...
Posted 14:51 20th November 2009
Lee Whitton (Liverpool fan) says...
Typical of all the clowns that run this sport, they never are held to task for anything they get woefully wrong. Shame Hansson will be going to the World Cup, spare a thought for all the players who wont get another chance to grace the Finals, but they can rest easy knowing that the Linesmen or should i say assistant probably will or will they severely punish them with a game ban. Absolute joke those circus guys, from Blatter down.
Posted 14:47 20th November 2009
Simon O'rourke (Leeds United fan) says...
Keep this man away from all France games next year. France already have a 12th man in Platini, they don't need a 13th!
Posted 14:46 20th November 2009
Thomas Tobin (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...
This man is a disgrace to Football. Course he wants it move on because he knows its his fault and that its his plate along with Henrys we irish want on a plate. And course hel be at the world cup Platini will only make sure he is there and will prob make sure that he will be in charge of one or two French games. And course FIFA have ruled out a replay cause they want France to be there not Ireland and i bet Platini has also had something to do with this. France has a shocking team going into this World Cup and i hope they get what they deserve and that is an early exit from the tournament because they have always have had cheaters on their team
Posted 14:46 20th November 2009
John Vermonte (Arsenal fan) says...
I am disgusted and sickenned. I am ashamed. The Irish should have won. France cheated. I will not support my country in world cup now. I hope we lose
Posted 14:12 20th November 2009
Ian Saville (Liverpool fan) says...
I cannot believe he has the gaul to say get over it and life must go on, what a disgrace would he be saying that if it was Damien Duff who handled and Ireland went through hes an idiot, and a pawn for Uefa and Fifa. I feel cheated
Posted 14:11 20th November 2009
Harry Shortland (Arsenal fan) says...
Yet AGAIN, the refs have demonstrated they are either incapable or unwilling to show the necessary courage to resolve critical issues in a game. Their continued arrogance in the face of overwhelming evidence is continuing to destroy and/or tarnish the game. If Blatter and his band of forty thieves don't step in and insist on refs using technology (instant replays on a sideline monitor) and the fourth official to help resolve critical incidents, the gap between the development of the game and their ability to keep up will widen and the game as we know it, will perish!
Posted 14:05 20th November 2009
Rob De b (Manchester United fan) says...
Rip football . football has died the ref's are poor. managers and players get told to be quiet .if they speak out of line they ar punished . the is truth fifa and uefa and the fa . dont like hearing the truth . alot of people slag saf off for his rants at refs . but he has it spot on . why do we keep defending refs . if i make mistakes at work im pulled up on it . the respect thing is crap repsect works both ways . football will never be the same. To many chiefs not enough indians . oh come on man u . 2mora will be hopefully an honest game
Posted 14:02 20th November 2009
David Lowth (Leeds United fan) says...
i think the ref is an idiot and his comments just say to me he was told by fifa and platini not to say anything. They got the teams they wanted through and people complain about players surrounding refs after bad calls i say just knock them out then match will be called off and than it will have to be replayed if an incident like that happens again.
Posted 14:01 20th November 2009
Niall Kelly (Manchester United fan) says...
Both Referee and the Assistant who was on the French side should be strukc off FIFA's list - although they are obviously heros in France and Mr Platini's best friends now so they will probably get a pay rise instead
Posted 13:59 20th November 2009
Pa Gleeson (Celtic fan) says...
u can leave ur sarcasm with your glasses hansson how dare you laugh off such a disgraceful mistake
Posted 13:58 20th November 2009
Anthony Smith (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...
What is he on about? he can say get over it but can not turn round and say "sorry i made a mistake" he is gutless and is not fit to referee big games and his assistants are as bad. If he can not admit to a mistake then he should sut it!
Posted 13:44 20th November 2009