2009 Republic of Ireland v France football matches: Difference between revisions

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| referee2 = [[Martin Hansson]] ([[Swedish Football Association|Sweden]])

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=== Summary ===

A controversial instance of [[Misconduct (association football)|misconduct]] occurred during [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] in the second leg of the [[two-legged tie]], when the overall score was standing at 1–1 [[Playoff format#Total points series (aggregate)|on aggregate]]. French player [[Florent Malouda]] took a [[Direct free kick|free kick]] just outside the [[Association football pitch#Other markings|centre circle]] in the Irish half of the field. He lofted it toward French captain [[Thierry Henry]], who was making a run in the [[penalty area]] to Irish [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Shay Given]]'s right-hand side. The ball bounced once to Henry, now inside the [[Association football pitch#goal area|goal area]] to the left of the goal. As it bounced upwards, Henry handled the ball twice with his left hand, stopping it going [[Ball in and out of play#Out of play|out of play]] and bringing the ball under control, before tapping the ball with the outside of his right foot past Given standing at the near goal post. The ball travelled the short distance to [[William Gallas]] arriving in the middle of the goal, who headed the ball into the Irish net.

 

 

===Details===

{{footballbox

|date = 14 November 2009

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{{footballbox

|date = 18 November 2009

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Henry told a reporter after the incident, "Yes, there was hand, but I'm not the referee. 'Toto' ([[Sébastien Squillaci]]) was going for the front, I was behind two Irishmen, the ball ricocheted and hit my hand. Of course, I continued to play... The referee did not whistle 'hand' but I can't say there wasn't hand."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/coupe-du-monde-2010-football/mondial-2010-oui-il-y-a-main-avoue-thierrry-henry-18-11-2009-716117.php|title=Thierry Henry admits there was hand|date=2009-11-18|accessdate=2009-11-18}}</ref> Henry later defended himself against criticism, stating, "Obviously I would have preferred that things panned out differently but I am not the official. I do not think we have stolen qualification".<ref name=LATimes19Nov09ThumbsDown>{{cite news

|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-cup-henry20-2009nov20,0,5392453.story?track=rss

Henry later called FIFA President [[Sepp Blatter]] over the incident.<ref name=AFP29Nov09BlatterBreaksSilence/><ref name=AP29Nov09BlatterNotHenrysFault/> Blatter stated Henry had told him his family had been threatened over the incident by fans.<ref name=AFP30Nov09FIFAMayPutMoreOfficialsAtWC/>

 

The match was officiated by a [[Swedish Football Association|Swedish]] team. [[Martin Hansson]] was the [[Referee (association football)|match referee]], assisted by his two [[Assistant referee (association football)|assistant referees]], [[Fredrik Nilsson (football referee)|Fredrik Nilsson]] and [[Stefan Wittberg]].<ref name=IrishTimes6Feb2010HanssonMakesFinals/>

 

}}</ref> He also stated that the reaction to the game had made him consider quitting his job as a referee.<ref name=Guardian24Nov09RefereeConsideredQuitting/><ref name=CBC24Nov09MissedCallNotMyFault/><ref name=Times24Nov09RefereeAlmostQuit/> On 21 June, during the World Cup finals, Hansson said, "After the game, we were sitting in the dressing room and I cried. I realized what a mistake it was."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/sports/soccer/22referees.html Referees Talk Openly, but Not About That One Call] ''The New York Times'' 21 June 2010</ref>

 

Ireland manager [[Giovanni Trapattoni]] stated he did not blame Henry, nor did he expect a replay would occur, but he did believe the incident would bring further pressure on FIFA to introduce [[goal-line technology]], stating "There is a 30-second stop and we clarify the situation...I'm sure in the future they will have to do something about it. It wasn't up to Henry to say 'I touched it with my hand".<ref name=BBCSport19Nov09IrishAskFifaForFranceReplay>{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8368100.stm

French team manager [[Raymond Domenech]] said of the game, "I don't see what we could have done better...We needed to qualify and we did that, even if it was painful. Victories like this one, at the end of a difficult campaign, give this side heart and soul", although criticism in France of his team, which had existed before the game, continued.<ref name=Reuters19Nov09FrancesHenryGetsHandSlapped/> Domenech later criticised the condemnation of Henry and France, and questioned the right of former French players like Cantona and Lizarazu to criticise his record as the French coach.<ref name=ESPN24Nov09DefiantDomenech/>

 

Ireland captain and scorer of Ireland's goal in the controversial match [[Robbie Keane]] criticised the presidents of [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] following Ireland's failure to qualify for the World Cup, claiming they would be 'delighted' that France had gone through.<ref name=LATimes19Nov09ThumbsDown/> He told [[BBC Radio Five Live]], "They're all probably clapping hands, Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result."<ref name=LATimes19Nov09ThumbsDown/> After Henry's statement, Keane concurred with his call for a replay in the interest of fair play, stating "On behalf of the Republic of Ireland players, I would like to thank Thierry Henry... As captain of the French team, to make such a statement took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that".<ref name=BBC21Nov09RepublicAdmitDefeatOverReplay/>

 

Dunne was later critical of Blatter's offer of moral compensation, describing it as "[[Taking the piss|taking the mickey]]".<ref name=BBC05Dec09Dunne/> He doubted Robbie Keane would be going to FIFA to collect any such award.<ref name=BBC05Dec09Dunne/> He reiterated the belief that ever since the earlier seedings controversy, FIFA had been showing France unfair favour.<ref name=UKPA05Dec09Dunne/>

 

The FAI filed a formal complaint with FIFA and the FFF, stating, "The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself."<ref name=BBCSport19Nov09IrishAskFifaForFranceReplay/> The FAI cited precedent for the invalidation of the result, using the example of a previous World Cup qualification match between [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]] and [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]], overturned by FIFA due to a 'technical error by the referee of the match'.<ref name=BBCSport19Nov09IrishAskFifaForFranceReplay/><ref name=SkySportsNews20Nov09HenryReplayFairestSolution/> In that game, the referee had failed to have a penalty kick re-taken after an attacker encroached on the penalty area.<ref name=Independent20Nov09Wenger/> FAI chief executive [[John Delaney (football administrator)|John Delaney]] said "It is up to the people who govern the game now, if they really believe in the principles of fair play then step forward....If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn't be happy"<ref name=BBCSport19Nov09IrishAskFifaForFranceReplay/> The president of the (FFF) Jean-Pierre Escalettes said "You have to take a philosophical approach to this match."<ref name=IrishTimes20Nov09SmallDetail/>

 

Following the FFF's refusal to support a replay, the FAI expressed "deep disappointment".<ref name=BBC21Nov09RepublicAdmitDefeatOverReplay/>

 

At the request of the FAI, Sepp Blatter met an Irish delegation in [[Zürich]] for 90 minutes on Friday 27 November.<ref name=SkySports30Nov09FIARevealMeetingDetails/> The FAI proposed a number of ways the incident could be prevented in future and, agreeing that the match could not be replayed, they instead also officially requested to be allowed to enter the World Cup as an unprecedented extra 33rd entrant.<ref name=AFP30Nov09IrishAskToBeTeam33/> Blatter stated that he would raise the Irish request at an [[extraordinary general meeting]] (EGM) of the FIFA executive committee.<ref name=BBC20Nov09ROIAsksForWCPlace/><ref name=RTESport30Nov09FAIFinalPlea/> [[RTÉ Sport]] speculated that the request would be "politely turned down".<ref name=RTESport30Nov09FAIFinalPlea/> The request drew 'laughter' when he relayed it to the Soccerex conference the following Monday.<ref name=AFP30Nov09IrishAskToBeTeam33/> Blatter was of the opinion that if the Republic of Ireland were admitted as an extra entrant, [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] would also have to be considered as well, having also been unfairly eliminated by an offside goal in a play-off against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (Inter-confederation play-offs)#CONCACAF 4th place v CONMEBOL 5th place|CONCACAF v CONMEBOL play-off]].<ref name=BBC20Nov09ROIAsksForWCPlace/><ref name=RTESport30Nov09FAIFinalPlea/><ref name=AP30Nov09BlatterFIFADiscussExtraRefs/><ref name=UKPA30Nov09IrelandAskForSABerth/> FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke had ruled it out on 1 December, one day before the meeting, clarifying that Blatter's comments regarding other teams had already shown the request was "impossible" and had "no hope" of being granted.<ref name=BBC01Dec09ROIPleaRejected>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8388671.stm|title=Republic of Ireland's World Cup plea rejected by Fifa |date=2009-12-01|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5lhxVa1Yr

|archivedate=2009-12-01|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=2009-12-01}}</ref> According to ''The Guardian'' on 30 November, the Irish had not expected the request to be successful, but they had also "asked FIFA to consider compensating them in some other way, perhaps by seeding them in the draw for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]]".<ref name=Guardian30Nov09IrelandAsked33rdTeam>{{cite news

Delaney reacted angrily to Blatter's public disclosure of what was intended to be a confidential submission to the FIFA executive committee, complaining to the FIFA general secretary and calling it "disrespectful to our country", and stating the 33rd team proposal had been "very much peripheral" to their suggestions, and was only discussed "for a minute or two" in the meeting.<ref name=IrishTimes03Dec09FIFABiggestLosersDelaney/> The FAI asserted that the 33rd place request had not even been included in any of the written submissions to FIFA.<ref name=IrishExaminer03Dec09DelaneyFIFAAreTheBigLosers/>

 

Blatter had initially faced criticism for refusing to comment on the incident.<ref name=AFP29Nov09BlatterBreaksSilence/> His first comments came with a report in ''[[L'Équipe]]'', and during his opening address at the [[Soccerex]] football conference in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa, both on Sunday 29 November.<ref name=AFP29Nov09BlatterBreaksSilence/><ref name=AP29Nov09BlatterNotHenrysFault/><ref name=RTESport30Nov09FAIFinalPlea/>

 

Blatter apologised to the FAI on 2 December for the public disclosure of the FAI's submission to FIFA and for the media's perception of his comments at Soccerex, saying, "I have nothing against the Irish, they were very sporting people when they came to FIFA and it is a pity that it has been now communicated in this way."<ref name=SkySports02Dec09BlatterApologises/><ref name=BBCSport02Dec09BlatterMakesApologyToRepublic/> After the EGM, John Delaney described FIFA as the "biggest losers" in the controversy for having "made one mistake after another", referring to the mid-competition change in seeding rules for the play-off, the negative imagery of football as a whole generated by FIFA's actions and Henry's goal, and Sepp Blatter's subsequent dealings with the FAI.<ref name=IrishExaminer03Dec09DelaneyFIFAAreTheBigLosers/>

 

On 23 November FIFA announced that the FIFA executive committee would hold an [[extraordinary general meeting]] (EGM) on 2 December in [[Cape Town]], where members were already due to meet to discuss the seedings for the World Cup, in order to discuss various recent incidents affecting the world game.<ref name=BBC23Nov09FIFAEGM>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8375320.stm|title=Fifa to meet over play-off issues|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2009-11-23|date=2009-11-23 |archiveurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8375320.stm |archivedate=2009-11-23}}</ref> According to [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar, the Henry incident would be "high on the agenda".<ref name=BBC23Nov09FIFAEGM/> [[Gordon Smith (footballer born December 1954)|Gordon Smith]], the chief executive of the [[Scottish Football Association]] and a member of the [[International Football Association Board]], believed that introduction of AARs in time for the World Cup would be pressed for at the EGM by UEFA president [[Michel Platini]], who had been a long-time supporter of the concept; Smith said of the proposal, "I feel that it has its advantages at the highest levels of the games. When there's massive TV coverage the problems are highlighted all over the world so this is something we may have to look at."<ref name=UKPA24Nov09BlatterCrisisMeeting>{{cite web

|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jagOT8yZYDaxf_tJtMTCatKD-udA

The expected introduction of AARs for the 2010 World Cup was ruled out.<ref name=BBCSport02Dec09NoExtraOfficialsForWC/><ref name=TheTimes02Dec09FIFARulesOutAssistants/> The committee "stressed that it would be too soon to implement this new system at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa."<ref name=FIFA02Dec09FIFAProposesMeasuresToTackleFootballIssues/> Blatter explained that, as AARs had not yet been trialled outside of Europe, the committee was of the opinion that any experiment must be carried out "globally" before it could be used in a World Cup.<ref name=UKPA02Dec09FIFARejectExtraRefs/> Blatter confirmed that the experiment with AAR's in the [[Europa League]] would continue into the 2010 knock-out stages.<ref name=UKPA02Dec09FIFARejectExtraRefs/> The meeting also ruled out the use of [[video referee]]ing systems similar to those seen in rugby, cricket and tennis.<ref name=AFP02Dec09FIFARulesOutRefAids/> Blatter stated that two companies investigating [[goal-line technology]] were due to report their results to [[International Football Association Board]] (IFAB) in March 2010.<ref name=AP02Dec09NoExtraRefsInvestigateHenry/> FIFA also called on the general secretaries of the [[List of football federations#Continental|Continental Federations]] to propose improvements to the format of the qualification and play-off phase of the World Cup competition, for submission by March 2010.<ref name=FIFA02Dec09FIFAProposesMeasuresToTackleFootballIssues/>

 

On the issue of possible disciplinary sanctions against Henry individually, a FIFA spokesperson stated "The [independent] disciplinary commission...will decide if the case is of interest [when they meet sometime in the next two weeks]. The possibility exists of sanctioning a player for unsporting behaviour on the basis of video evidence".<ref name=Telegraph22Nov09HenryCouldFaceWorldCupBan>{{cite news

|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/france/6625117/Fifa-Frances-Thierry-Henry-could-face-World-Cup-ban-over-Ireland-handball.html

The FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes hoped the announcement would mark the end of the incident, stating of the decision that is "not astonishing, it is logical".<ref name=AFP18Jan2010HenryEscapes/>

 

FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke later denied that France's absence from the [[2010 FIFA World Cup seeding|top 8 seeded teams]] for the 2010 World Cup draw had been a result of the controversy, stating that the change to the seeding system (using the world rankings as they stood at October 2009) was fairer than past systems.<ref name=TheGuardian03Dec09NoAgendaAgainstFrance>{{cite news

|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/02/france-world-cup-seedings

France and the Republic of Ireland did not meet in the [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying|qualifying matches]] for the [[UEFA Euro 2012|2012 European Championships]]. France were drawn in [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D|Group D]] while Ireland were drawn in [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group B|Group B]], although they were drawn together in the practice run for the draw held the day before.<ref name=AFP6Feb2010Platini/><ref name=IrishIndependent7Feb2010PlatiniFansFlames/>

 

After the FIFA EGM, John Delaney said, "In terms of the football side, this is the end of the matter," but that "the incident will linger long in the memory like [[Argentina v England (1986 FIFA World Cup)#"Hand of God" goal|Diego Maradona's handball]]."<ref name=Reuters02Dec09BlatterApologyAcceptedFAI/> Delaney hoped the promise of an inquiry into refereeing and technology was "not a [[wikt:fudge the issue|fudge]]."<ref name=IrishTimes03Dec09FIFABiggestLosersDelaney/> The FAI and FIFA were however due to meet again after the EGM according to Blatter, to discuss some form of non-financial compensation for the controversy.<ref name=BBC03Dec09FIFAChiefsToMeetWithRepublic/>

 

In January 2010, match referee Hansson and his assistant Stefan Wittberg were both selected as one of the thirty officiating teams to be used at the 2010 World Cup; however, Hansson's other assistant on the day of the incident, Fredrik Nilsson who missed the handball, was not selected, being replaced by [[Henrik Andren]].<ref name=IrishTimes6Feb2010HanssonMakesFinals/> FIFA had insisted at the time of the incident that, since selection of referees for the World Cup referee was based on long-term assessments, Hansson would probably make it to the finals.<ref name=IrishTimes6Feb2010HanssonMakesFinals/> UEFA president [[Michel Platini]] called it a good decision, defending Hansson as having not been responsible for the incident as he had not seen the hand-ball.<ref name=AFP6Feb2010Platini/><ref name=IrishIndependent7Feb2010PlatiniFansFlames/>

 

The incident has been compared to [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]]'s infamous [[Argentina v England (1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final)|"Hand of God" goal]] in the [[1986 World Cup]], which led to the incident being labelled as the "Hand of [[List of ethnic slurs#F|Frog]]"<ref name=Reuters19Nov09FrancesHenryGetsHandSlapped>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE5AI1Y720091119?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true |title=France's Henry gets hand slapped |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-11-19 |accessdate=2009-11-19 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5lPm4zu6W |archivedate=2009-11-19 }}</ref><ref name="TheAge_Sport_Soccer_19Nov2009_HandofFrog">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/11/19/1258219918910.html|title=Hand of Frog rules while Guus misses out|date=2009-11-19|publisher=[[The Age]]|accessdate=2009-11-19 | location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref name="CourierMail_Sport_Soccer_19Nov2009_ThierryHenryamits cheating">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26370875-10389,00.html|title= Thierry Henry amits cheating with handball to qualify France for World Cup A|date=2009-11-19|publisher=[[Courier-Mail]]|accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref><ref name="Ouest-France_Sports_19Novembre2009_ByTenFeetandOneHand">{{cite news|url=http://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/une_foot_detail_-Qualification-des-Bleus-au-Mondial.-Des-pieds-et-d-une-main_40394-1159837_actu.Htm|title=Qualification des Bleus au Mondial. Des pieds et d'une main|date=2009-11-19|publisher=[[Ouest-France]]|language=French|accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref><ref name="TheStar_19Nov2009_HandofFrog">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.za/?fArticleId=5252588|title=Cheated by the 'Hand of Frog'|last=LEBOGANG|first=SEALE|date=2009-11-19|publisher=[[The Star (South Africa)]]|accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref><ref name="TheAge_Sport_Soccer_20Nov2009_MichaelLynch_">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/strongmichael-lynchstrong/2009/11/19/1258219924214.html|title=French handiwork warrants a FIFA suspension|last=Lynch|first=Michael|date=2009-11-20|publisher=[[The Age]]|accessdate=2009-11-20 | location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes_Sports_19Nov2009_France'sHenryGetsHandSlapped">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/19/sports/sports-us-soccer-world-france.html|title=France's Henry Gets Hand Slapped |last=[[Reuters]]|date=2009-11-19|publisher=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref> the "Hand of Gaul"[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/henrys-hand-of-gaul-cheats-irish-of-world-chance/story-e6frg7mf-1225799918338] and the "Hand of Henry" affair.<ref name=AFP20Nov09Guardiola/><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2009/11/19/sp-soccer-ireland-protest.html |title='Robbed' Irish demand replay with France |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2009-11-19 |accessdate=2009-11-24 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5lX8zd7G7 |archivedate=2009-11-24}}</ref>

 

Irish [[Taoiseach]] [[Brian Cowen]] called on FIFA for a replay, stating that "fair play is a fundamental part of the game".<ref name=RTE19Nov09TaoiseachFAICallOnFIFAToHoldReplay>{{cite web

|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1119/ireland.html

}}</ref>

 

On the eve of Henry's possible punishment being discussed at the FIFA EGM, FFF technical director [[Gérard Houllier]] defended Henry, stating the handball was instinctive and that the blame lay with the referee, pointing out that had the goal not been scored, the match would still have gone to penalties.<ref name=BBC01Dec09>{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8388335.stm

}}</ref>

 

While in [[Dublin]] on 26 November for a charity event, [[Pelé]] said "maybe the linesman could help, but even the linesman doesn't see the game. We say fair play, but you know I don't think it was unfair, something that goes in one second... The result was unfair, but unfortunately you can't change that"<ref name="SkySports26Nov09Pele">[[Sky Sports News]] ''Football Today'' 26 November 2009 13.00 GMT</ref><ref name=UKPA26Nov09PeleIrishDefeatUnfair>{{cite web

|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jFpr6AGd14N_Mh75Sjm0YVOX5EZw

[[Thierry Roland]], described by ''[[the Times]]'' as the "[[doyen]] of French TV football commentators", said of the game "It's a scandal, a shame with a capital S."<ref name=TimesFrenchPMToIrishleader/>

 

According to the [[BBC]], the game "attracted mass news coverage across Europe".<ref name=BBC21Nov09RepublicAdmitDefeatOverReplay/> [[Agence France-Presse]] (AFP) described how the result of the game sparked an "international outcry" and how as a result of the handball, Henry had been "pilloried as a cheat around the globe".<ref name=AFP21Nov09IrelandAdmitsDefeat>{{cite web

|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDqWS6Zz3PoMQKp-vFqKtos0JEvg

FIFA's subsequent decision to select referee Hansson as one of the 2010 World Cup officials was criticised by the Irish media, as well as UEFA president [[Michel Platini]]'s comments that it would have been "great" if France and the Republic of Ireland had been drawn together for the [[UEFA Euro 2012|2012 European Championships]].<ref name=IrishTimes6Feb2010HanssonMakesFinals/><ref name=IrishIndependent7Feb2010PlatiniFansFlames/>

 

'A few hundred' Irish fans marched from [[Lansdowne Road]] Stadium to the French embassy on [[Ailesbury Road]] in [[Dublin]], to demand a replay.<ref name=TheEpochTimes23Nov09FacebookGroup/><ref name=UKPA21Nov09EmbassyProtest>{{cite web

|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jg713cpixXegkmDsIpYRyCpEvjAw

Irish fans donned [[sombrero]]s and cheered as [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] beat France 2-0 in the finals on 17 June 2010.<ref>Carbray, Paul. [http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/06/20/france%E2%80%99s-misery-has-the-irish-smiling/ France’s misery has the Irish smiling]. ''National Post''. 20 June 2010.</ref>

 

The [[2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final]] between [[Louth GAA|Louth]] and [[Meath GAA|Meath]] held at Croke Park on 11 July 2010 drew comparisons with Thierry Henry's cheating due to its controversial ending in which Louth were wrongfully defeated by a last minute Meath goal which was thrown into the net and therefore should not have stood. Louth were in the lead at the time and would have won their first Leinster Senior Football Championship in 53 years if Meath had not been given the goal.<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0712/1224274518490.html "Referee shoved in chest after GAA final"]. ''The Irish Times''. 12 July 2010.</ref> Louth fans burst onto the pitch as the final whistle blew, chasing and physically assaulting the referee around the field, while a steward was knocked unconscious with a bottle during ugly scenes played out on live television. The referee was struck on at least three different points as he scrambled away from the baying mob.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/8808677.stm "Referee Martin Sludden struck after Leinster decider"]. BBC Sport. 11 July 2010.</ref> Meath chairman Barney Allen compared calls for the game to be replayed with Henry's moment of shame, saying "Ireland didn't get a replay when France got a lucky goal".<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mayhem-and-madness-as-fans-attack-referee-2254900.html "Mayhem and madness as fans attack referee"]. ''Irish Independent''. 12 July 2010.</ref> As the controversy continued to erupt,<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/in-pictures-fury-as-fans-attack-ulster-gaa-referee-after-meath-beat-louth-at-croke-park-14873538.html?r=RSS# "In Pictures: Fury as fans attack Ulster GAA referee after Meath beat Louth at Croke Park"]. ''The Belfast Telegraph''. 12 July 2010.</ref> RTÉ analyst [[Pat Spillane]] called it a "disgrace".<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0711/crokerpark_meath_louth.html "Referee is attacked in Croke Park"]. RTÉ Sport. 11 July 2010.</ref> [[Setanta Sports]] said the "goal" would "now go down in infamy as the GAA's Thierry Henry incident".<ref>[http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2010/07/11/Royal-robbery-as-officials-fail-luckless-Louth/gnid-72449/ "Royal robbery as officials fail luckless Louth"]. Setanta Sports. 11 July 2010.</ref>

 

In 2011, "L'Affair Henry the, ahem, touchiest sporting controversy in living memory" received its own episode of ''[[Scannal]]'', the TV series dedicated to scandalous events. The ''[[Evening Herald]]'' reviewer called it an "entertaining, tightly-packaged edition" of the show but also opined, "Where ''Scannal'' stumbled, however, was in its failure to go in with both feet on the cringe-inducing elephant in the room: John Delaney's embarrassing plea to Fifa boss, the odious Sepp Blatter, to let Ireland be "the 33rd team" at the World Cup".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/hand-of-henry-haunts-us-again-2954746.html|title=Hand of Henry haunts us again|date=6 December 2011|accessdate=6 December 2011|work=Evening Herald}}</ref>