FIFA’s executive committee has just concluded its emergency meeting at Cape Town, South Africa. On the question of Henry Thierry’s by now infamous double handball fouls (unnoticed by the referee and his assistants) that got France into the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals at the expense of Ireland, FIFA president Sepp Blatter now calls that a “blatant” act of cheating. So now Henry Thierry has to face the FIFA music.
FIFA’s executive committee has referred France captain Henry Thierry to an independent disciplinary commission. Sepp Blatter said: “The disciplinary commission will open a case on the behaviour of the player Thierry Henry. It was blatant and unfair and shown all around the world.”
A FIFA spokesman said: “The disciplinary commission is an independent organ. It will decide if the case is of interest. The possibility exists of sanctioning a player for unsporting behaviour on the basis of video evidence.” Indeed this committee can suspend Henry Thierry if he is found guilty, and this means that Henry Thierry could possibly miss the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final matches.
Sounding a warning of sort, Sepp Blatter said: “Fair play has to be the winner. We took action against Rivaldo at the 2002 World Cup over bad behaviour. He was punished.”
But Sepp B latter did not say what punishment was meted out to Rivaldo. Indeed he got off relatively easy, being fined £5,180. Rivalio was the first player to be fined by FIFA for “simulation” – play acting, or more commonly, diving. In that game, an opposing player already on a yellow card caution kicked the ball at Rivaldo’s leg. Rivaldo immediately went into his oscar winning act, wriggling on the field as if in great pain. The referee was fooled and the opposing player was red carded and sent off. Then as if by magic, Rivaldo immediately got up and started to play again, without any medical attention rendered.
In the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarter final match, Mauro Tassotti elbowed opposing Spanish player Luis Enrique. That incident too was not noticed by the referee. However, FIFA later banned Mauro Tassotti for eight games.
Last year, Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino was banned for two matches after he scored with his forearm in a Serie A match.
The FIFA executive committee also decided against appointing extra referee assistants in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals.
Another decision taken was not to seed France for the draw to see which team play against which team. But FIFA said this is not a result of Henry Thierry’s saga.
Think about it. So the question of whether Henry Thierry cheated intentionally or unintentionally will finally be decided by this independent FIFA disciplinary commission, probably within the next couple of weeks. But does it matter whether it was intentional or otherwise? Can there be a guilty cheat and an innocent cheat?
Earlier posts
Henry Thierry – Does Sepp Blatter Still Support Him?
Henry Thierry – Now Sponsors Feel The Heat
Henry Thierry Booed – “I Felt Alone, Really Alone”
So Is Henry Thierry A Cheat?
“Hand Of God” By Thierry à la Maradona
Recent Comments