During the interview I was moaning about the French footballer, Henri handling the ball (see 3 Wise Men) and demanding a replay in the name of Fair Play (as well as marking the end of the ‘non-video ref era’), when a wonderful Wigan FC fan phoned in (as the programme was originally about the Wigan players giving the fans their money back after Wigan were beaten  9-1 by Spurs). He  admitted that one of their players had, in fact handled the ball also, and that they, as true sportsmen, were offering Spurs the opportunity of a replay. Don’t you just love some football fans’ wit & humour? A wonderful Christmas gesture!

Henry’s former Arsenal team mate, Lee Dixon, believes Henry has ruined his reputation “He has been a truly great footballer – one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the Premier League – but now people will remember him for that goal against Ireland. It’s really sad.”

Come on France all you’ve got to do is ask for a replay.

Sign this petition & send it to all your contacts in Ireland & abroad – The Irish have so many friends all over the world. If they get 10+million signatures, they will have to seriously rethink it. Don’t let this go. www.gopetition.com/online/32214/sign.html#se

Or let FIFA know directly,  www.fifa.com/contact/form.html .

Meanwhile watch out for a lobby campaign for the sponsors.  Kids all over the world have seen cheats win again. FIFA has an opportunity to let kids see that cheating does not prevail and that, courtesy of technology, this is the begininng of the end, of the era where cheats always win. With a nudge from sponsors, FIFA may still take this historic opportunity to get it right.  Watch out for my next post which shows how the Germans have come up with a brilliant solution to reduce cheating.