Robbie Keane hit out at the presidents of Fifa and Uefa following the Republic of Ireland's World Cup exit, claiming they would be "delighted" that France had gone through thanks to a hugely controversial winning goal.Striker Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball before squaring it across goal for William Gallas to net the winner after Republic skipper Keane had levelled the aggregate score in the first half of the play-off second leg in Paris.And Keane claims Fifa president Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini got the result they would have wanted last night.He said: "They're all probably clapping hands, Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result."The Tottenham forward also criticised the late decision to seed the play-off ties when it emerged that established football powers such as France, Portugal and at one stage Germany could be involved.Keane said: "Germany had a chance of being in the (play-offs) as well. With two massive countries there's no way in a million years is there going to be fair draw."Henry's handball was another incident in support of video evidence being used during matches to support referees.He added: "He (Henry) nearly caught it, so it's a bit of a killer. When you see the reaction of the players, (goalkeeper) Shay (Given) especially, he's two yards away from it."You don't get a reaction like that if he's not sure it's a handball. He almost caught it and ran into the net with it."Henry admitted the ball did strike his hand and claims he told the referee, who chose to allow the goal to stand.The Barcelona striker said: "The ball hit my hand, I will be honest. It was a handball, you can clearly see it. (Sebastien) Squillaci went to jump with two Irish players, I was behind him and the next thing I know the ball hit my hand."It was a handball, but I'm not the ref. I told (the referee) but he said tome the same: `You are not the ref."'
Robbie Keane hit out at the presidents of Fifa and Uefa following the Republic of Ireland's World Cup exit, claiming they would be "delighted" that France had gone through thanks to a hugely controversial winning goal.
Striker Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball before squaring it across goal for William Gallas to net the winner after Republic skipper Keane had levelled the aggregate score in the first half of the play-off second leg in Paris.
And Keane claims Fifa president Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini got the result they would have wanted last night.
He said: "They're all probably clapping hands, Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result."
The Tottenham forward also criticised the late decision to seed the play-off ties when it emerged that established football powers such as France, Portugal and at one stage Germany could be involved.
Keane said: "Germany had a chance of being in the (play-offs) as well. With two massive countries there's no way in a million years is there going to be fair draw."
Henry's handball was another incident in support of video evidence being used during matches to support referees.
He added: "He (Henry) nearly caught it, so it's a bit of a killer. When you see the reaction of the players, (goalkeeper) Shay (Given) especially, he's two yards away from it.
"You don't get a reaction like that if he's not sure it's a handball. He almost caught it and ran into the net with it."
Henry admitted the ball did strike his hand and claims he told the referee, who chose to allow the goal to stand.
The Barcelona striker said: "The ball hit my hand, I will be honest. It was a handball, you can clearly see it. (Sebastien) Squillaci went to jump with two Irish players, I was behind him and the next thing I know the ball hit my hand.
"It was a handball, but I'm not the ref. I told (the referee) but he said to
me the same: `You are not the ref."'
Henry admitted the ball did strike his hand and claims he told the referee, who chose to allow the goal to stand...."It was a handball, but I'm not the ref. I told (the referee) but he said tome the same: `You are not the ref."'
...
However in fairness to Henry - players cheat and dive all the time and if they succeed in fooling the referee it is (almost) considered fair game - although the "anglos" like to get sniffy with the "Latins" claiming they have brought this to a fine art and undermined the spirit of the game.
One of the reasons I prefer Rugby is that there is a lot less play-acting going on - it is against the players code of honour - although it has been creeping in a bit more of late as the game gets more "professional" - witness "bloodgate" in England when Harlequins used artificial blood to simulate an injury in a critical match against Leinster. notes from no w here
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are fi nal.
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
So, he didn't tell the referee during the game, but an Irish player after the game. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi
