Fifa: Henry handball 'not serious infringement'
The row over Thierry Henry's now infamous handball leading up to France's goal against Ireland in Paris rumbles on
Also In The News
|
By Tom Powell. |  |
Monday, 18, Jan 2010 05:32
By Alistair Potter.
The Fifa executive committee have rubbed salt into Irish wounds by refusing to punish Thierry Henry for his handball in November's World Cup qualifier, saying it "cannot be regarded as a serious infringement".
After rejecting Ireland's pleas for a replay of the crunch match, Fifa have now opted not to punish the French striker because they do not deem the offence to be of sufficient gravity.
The announcement is likely to anger Irish officials still further after the incident during extra time enabled France to reach this summer's World Cup finals at the expense of their opponents.
Henry clearly controlled the ball with his hand twice in the build-up to France defender William Gallas' crucial equaliser against the Republic in Paris, which secured a 1-1 draw for the hosts on the night and a 2-1 aggregate victory.
But in its statement, Fifa's disciplinary committee said: "At its meeting, the disciplinary committee reached the conclusion that there was no legal foundation for the committee to consider the case because handling the ball cannot be regarded as a serious infringement as stipulated in article 77a of the Fifa disciplinary code.
"There is no other legal text that would allow the committee to impose sanctions for any incidents missed by match officials."
Article 77a gives Fifa power to rule on sanctions for events that are not spotted by match-day officials and specifically refers to "serious infringements" of the laws of the game.
Ireland have argued in favour of retribution in some form, with several reports suggesting the nation as a whole would lose out on around ?100 million (£88 million).
And today's revelation that the world governing body views Henry's handball as not being "serious" is likely to be met with derision by the FAI.