The Henry debate

Patrick Barclay told The Sunday Supplement the vilification of Thierry Henry was over the top and believes the French forward is no worse than many other players heading to the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Henry was the centre of attention this week following his handball in the build up to France's decisive goal against Ireland in their World Cup play-off encounter in Paris.

The former Arsenal star has been branded a cheat and there have been calls from the Irish football association and even members of the Irish government for the game to be replayed.

However, Barclay called for an end to the outrage.

"I thought a lot of the reaction was hysterical," said The Times journalist. "For the Irish justice minister to call for a replay was a misuse of his position - I'm sure there are much more pressing issues in Irish justice than that, involving people in serious situations.

"I thought it was also tasteless of the Prime Mnister Brian Cowen to bring this up with Nicolas Sarkozy when Europe is at the cross roads. For heavens sake this is football!"

Barclay also blasted the lack of analysis in the media following the incident, citing a similar infringement from Robbie Keane in the first half of the match, which was spotted by the referee.

"A perfect example of how perspective was lost and analysis wasn't used was that Robbie Keane committed the same offence in the first half of the game," said Barclay. "The ref spotted it but had he not spotted Robbie Keane's handball but spotted Thierry Henry's where would the argument be?

"It is ridiculous to personalise it about Thierry Henry or the referee. It is an unfortunate situation, and I'm not defending cheating for a minute, but to vilify a person like this when what he did is very much in the context of the game and of our times is unworthy an actually does our game a lot more harm than what Thierry Henry did."

Reputation

Barclay also believes the act will not stain Henry's reputation when the Barcelona forward retires.

"His reputation will be diluted but he will still be remembered by most football lovers for the great things he has done for the game, in the same way that Maradona is.

"When I think of Maradona I don't think of the drug cheat, I don't think of the hand of God, I think of the slalom goals, I think of the courage, I think of the beauty with which he graced the game.

"The same with Zinedine Zidane - I don't think he is a serial assaulter even though he was twice sent off in world cups, I think of the great things he did in his career. Zidane was never an angel and he was never a devil and the same is true of most people on this earth including Thierry Henry."

Winter disagrees

However, The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter refused to accept Barclay's assessment.

"His reputation will be tarnished," argued Winter. "When I think of Maradona I think of the first goal in 86 [the Hand of God goal] then the second goal, I do think of the cheating and when I think of Zidane I do think of the head butt first.

"It is going to make a mockery of the World Cup and FIFA's campaign for fairplay when the captain of France walks out for his first game behind a huge yellow banner which says 'Fairplay'.

"I don't think the game should be replayed because that sets a dangerous precedent but we have to send out a message that cheating can't go on. There has to be an individual responsibility.

"You've got one of the most high profile sportsmen in the world, who has cheated, who will go to the World Cup and be celebrated - how embarrassing will it be if we see him handed the World Cup?

"He should be banned from the World Cup."

But Barclay responded: "A lot of players have cheated in precisely the same way, so why single this man out?