Blatter says not Henry's job to report handball
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2009, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FIFA president Sepp Blatter says it wasn't Thierry Henry's responsibility to tell the referee he handled the ball for France's goal against Ireland in the World Cup playoff.
Henry handled the ball in the lead-up to William Gallas' equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Paris on November 18 that gave France a 2-1 aggregate win and a World Cup spot at the expense of the Irish.
Blatter told the L'Equipe newspaper that it wasn't Henry's "responsibility to tell the referee (Martin Hansson) " and that "the referee should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."
Blatter said he called Henry because the Barcelona striker had tried to phone him.
The FIFA boss said that the handball showed that referees need more help on the field. For the first time, he said that additional referees behind each goal and currently the subject of an experiment in the Europa League, could be used at the World Cup in South Africa.
The Swiss reiterated his stance against the use of technology or video replays to assist the referee but said that the FIFA Executive Committee, in an extraordinary meeting scheduled for Cape Town on Wednesday, would discuss various pressing issues.
He confirmed that Ireland had appealed to FIFA to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team in next year's World Cup finals.
Blatter said the FIFA executive committee would consider Ireland's request on Wednesday.
Henry handled the ball in the lead-up to William Gallas' equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Paris on November 18 that gave France a 2-1 aggregate win and a World Cup spot at the expense of the Irish.
Blatter told the L'Equipe newspaper that it wasn't Henry's "responsibility to tell the referee (Martin Hansson) " and that "the referee should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."
Blatter said he called Henry because the Barcelona striker had tried to phone him.
The FIFA boss said that the handball showed that referees need more help on the field. For the first time, he said that additional referees behind each goal and currently the subject of an experiment in the Europa League, could be used at the World Cup in South Africa.
The Swiss reiterated his stance against the use of technology or video replays to assist the referee but said that the FIFA Executive Committee, in an extraordinary meeting scheduled for Cape Town on Wednesday, would discuss various pressing issues.
He confirmed that Ireland had appealed to FIFA to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team in next year's World Cup finals.
Blatter said the FIFA executive committee would consider Ireland's request on Wednesday.
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