World Cup Play-Off

[Legend10]

I agree with what Roy Keane said.

Injustice happens all the time in football, people need to move on now and Keane did point out reasonable questions about the defending and goalkeeping.

Plus its back to the real important stuff now, club football!

 

[Caco]

Delaney is a muppet and his call for a replay was a bit like Levy after Lasagnegate. Henry cheated, and no matter what he achieves in football from now on there will always be a large group of people, the Irish, who will always remember him this way. Much in the same way a lot of English remember Maradona, even though he is the greatest footballer who ever lived.

If the tables had been reversed though, and the FFF had asked the FAI for a replay would FIFA have rejected the notion? They probably would have said that they would sanction the replay if the FAI agreed. Because football and the world cup is all about buisness, big buisness.

The FAI stands to lose over €20m from this decision, the Irish economy maybe 5 times that amount. Sheffield Utd got compo from West Ham for what happened with Tevez, maybe the FAI have grounds for a similar case against FIFA.

 

[lifeof...]

Well as you've decided to contribute to two threads perhaps you could read both and you'd have your answers for most of your questions.

the two questions asked were rhetorical, didn't need to read other peoples views to have my own POV.

 

[lifeof...]

Then so will I:

I don’t buy this hypocrisy thing from the F A I and I don’t accept that they behaved like petulant children, it was just a business decision. The Henry incident was deliberate handball, he cheated again but what you gonna do about it? The ref didn’t see it so he couldn’t give it so that’s that. The real fix came with FIFA seeding the play off’s which was done to get the result they got.
The FAI position was not petulance it was their only hope of gong to South Africa, they knew there was no official reason to replay but by putting pressure on FIFA they may just have tipped the French FA into agreeing to a replay, unlikely I know but it was their only hope so why not try it. If the French FA or Michel Platini can get the rules bent why not the FA of Ireland?
Don't forget that Sepp Blatter was involved so the accusation of underhandedness does hold water.

But there are 2 separate points here.. the stuff to do with the match, and the seeding of the play offs. I agree that the decision to seed the play offs after the comp has started is wrong, Had any of the teams complained and demanded the "new" rule be dropped I would have supported that.But IFA wanted a replay based on Fairness and Justice, purely based on the handball and the following score, claiming that it was unjust etc. Complaining and wanting to replay based on this, when you have already benifited from an "injustice" is IMO hypocrisy. The reason this was the only option left open, is ALL to do with Irelands inabilty to do enough in the qualifiy stages and nothing to do with this 5 odd seconds of poor officaldom

 

[lifeof...]

Roy Keane has signed up to SC! We're not worthy! :bowdown:

Taking out Roy Keane obvious dislike for certain members of IFA, and the comments aimed at them, He spoke some sense. Every Fan has been on the receiving end of injustice, our common one is Spurs, it is how you choose to deal with it, is your choice. as it is mine

 

[lifeof...]

*bans Roy Keane*

Oh, that felt gooood

Did he not serve your country well? Did you not cheer his name in his national role? He made a decision, of which you may not like, but at least he stood up for what he believed in, Which surly is better than, allowing what you believe is wrong to continue?

And when all said and done, the details are not known by you or anyone else apart from a few within the circumstance, I wouldn't be so quick to criticise and condemn on so little information, But then that's just me and my POV

 

[haxman]

Taking out Roy Keane obvious dislike for certain members of IFA, and the comments aimed at them, He spoke some sense. Every Fan has been on the receiving end of injustice, our common one is Spurs, it is how you choose to deal with it, is your choice. as it is mine

Oh I agree with you and with Keane. If you look a few pages back I said the same, just not in as bitter a way as Keane said it.

 

[lifeof...]

Oh I agree with you and with Keane. If you look a few pages back I said the same, just not in as bitter a way as Keane said it.

Oh fair enough then, sorry i misunderstood, though i don't see how my post is like roy keane...it isn't bitter,

 

[C0YS]

Interesting artical

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/domenech-blocked-replay-1950705.html

Raymond Domenech was the sole obstacle to Ireland's game against France being replayed, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Domenech refused to allow the French Football Federation to agree to a replay of France's game against Ireland despite the overwhelming backing of the French squad, the French public and key figures within the federation.


The FAI yesterday conceded that there was no chance of a replay following the statement from the FFF on Friday night. Yet it has emerged that the French were close to agreeing but Domenech, who would have been fired if France had been eliminated last Wednesday, insisted there should be no second chance for Ireland.


During several discussions on Friday, Domenech would not back down despite the increased pressure following the statements from Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger, who both called for the game to take place again, probably on Wednesday week.


The French public were overwhelming in favour of the game being replayed but the views of the French squad were even more influential and on Thursday night and Friday morning the feeling grew within the team that the game should be replayed.


If Domenech had relented, the FFF would have agreed to the Irish request and the FAI had been privately assured that FIFA would have allowed the game to take place and, in fact, they would have welcomed the chance to demonstrate that their commitment to fair play and integrity was more than just rhetoric.


"We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation," said chief executive, John Delaney.


But Domenech -- once seen as Ireland's best chance -- was the chief obstacle. The players are understood to have been confident they could beat Ireland in a replay and remove the sense they had qualified unfairly for next summer's tournament.


Domenech saw it differently, however, holding privately to his public view that there was no need to commit "hara-kiri" and allow a replay.
The FAI believed that the game would have attraction a global audience and influential figures in FIFA also held this view, seeing it as a way to restore the reputation of the game. Yet they could not act unless the FFF agreed as FIFA would not overturn a decision -- or non-decision -- made by a referee.


"The credibility of fair-play has been damaged by this incident in front of a world-wide audience," said Delaney, who sits on the UEFA disciplinary committee, added. "Despite our deep disappointment, we thank our players, the wonderful Irish fans and the Irish public at large for their support as well as the solidarity of the French people. We will continue to call on FIFA to take action to ensure that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to recur."


Ireland's manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who had said it was "impossible" that the FAI would agree to a replay, accused FIFA of "treachery" on Friday, adding that the double handball by Henry was "murder". Most contentiously, Trapattoni claimed that the fourth official had informed referee Martin Hansson of the handball.


"Even a blind man would have seen the double handball. The linesman was on line as the images show and he had perfect vision. I am certain that Mr Hansson was in contact with the fourth official and to those who were looking at the images in slow motion.


"Why, when he understood that he had made a mistake, did he not change his mind?"


In the end, it appears that it was Domenech's refusal to change his that denied Ireland a replay.

 

[haxman]

In the end, it appears that it was Domenech's refusal to change his that denied Ireland a replay.

I think Domenech knows he's on his last legs - a replay, and a possible defeat would surely see him getting his P45, this way he gets to take France to the world cup, I can't see them firing him before it.

If they win it, he's a hero again. If they don't and go out early which looking at how that team performed against "minnows" Ireland seems the more likely scenario, he'll be getting the boot.

 

[C0YS]

I think Domenech knows he's on his last legs - a replay, and a possible defeat would surely see him getting his P45, this way he gets to take France to the world cup, I can't see them firing him before it.

If they win it, he's a hero again. If they don't and go out early which looking at how that team performed against "minnows" Ireland seems the more likely scenario, he'll be getting the boot.

I don't see them getting out of the group stages, they got lucky to reach the final in 2006 and nearly failed at the group stage, and then had to cheat against spain...and that was with Zidane

 

[Teemu]

I'm French, and I think Domenech is a muppet. Genuinely useless human being, and I'm pretty sure no other French football fan wants him in the job.

 

[lifeof...]

I'm French, and I think Domenech is a muppet. Genuinely useless human being, and I'm pretty sure no other French football fan wants him in the job.

So out of interest, would support the call to replay the Irish game?

 

[Dougal]

Did he not serve your country well? Did you not cheer his name in his national role? He made a decision, of which you may not like, but at least he stood up for what he believed in, Which surly is better than, allowing what you believe is wrong to continue?

And when all said and done, the details are not known by you or anyone else apart from a few within the circumstance, I wouldn't be so quick to criticise and condemn on so little information, But then that's just me and my POV

I never liked Keane, always came across as a scumbag, on and off the pitch, and has rarely done much to contradict this. As pointed out by people here just because a player is a star footballer for your national team it doesn't neccessarily have anything to do with your own point of view of that player. Players who have served Ireland well were the boys who took the field in Japan and the boys who got us within a cheats hand of South Africa. My point above was to say you were rehashing a load of previous points that had already been dealt with so unless was just a statement dropped into the middle of a conversation then you'll find your points of view has already been addressed.

 

[lifeof...]

I never liked Keane, always came across as a scumbag, on and off the pitch, and has rarely done much to contradict this. As pointed out by people here just because a player is a star footballer for your national team it doesn't neccessarily have anything to do with your own point of view of that player. Players who have served Ireland well were the boys who took the field in Japan and the boys who got us within a cheats hand of South Africa. My point above was to say you were rehashing a load of previous points that had already been dealt with so unless was just a statement dropped into the middle of a conversation then you'll find your points of view has already been addressed.

Having read through the posts, i would disagree in varying degrees, but what you are actually posting is that if "your POV has been posted, don't post"

Which is just plain ridiculous. It is normal and in fact encouraged for people to post their thoughts, even if they have the audacity to have the same POV as others. Personally I think you should take a time out from this, it is clearly effecting your subjectivity, which as a moderator, isn't really such a good idea

 

[ExpatFan]

Delaney is a muppet and his call for a replay was a bit like Levy after Lasagnegate. Henry cheated, and no matter what he achieves in football from now on there will always be a large group of people, the Irish, who will always remember him this way. Much in the same way a lot of English remember Maradona, even though he is the greatest footballer who ever lived.

Sorry, matey, can't let that one go unchallenged.
No way, in my view, the greatest who ever lived.
Did you ever see Best play? or Greaves? or Duncan Edwards? or Di Stefano?
Dago Maradona? Good player, yes; bordering on greatness, probaby; but, bottom line, too many negatives to be a true great.

Meanwhile, back on topic....

 

[Legend10]

I don't remember Maradona for the hand ball incident, I remember him as the greatest player I've ever seen.

 

[Dougal]

Having read through the posts, i would disagree in varying degrees, but what you are actually posting is that if "your POV has been posted, don't post"

Which is just plain ridiculous. It is normal and in fact encouraged for people to post their thoughts, even if they have the audacity to have the same POV as others. Personally I think you should take a time out from this, it is clearly effecting your subjectivity, which as a moderator, isn't really such a good idea

Not at all, just that your issues have already been raised. Wouldn't dream of telling people not to post or indeed 'take time out'. Either way, I've reached the highs and lows of being a football fan this week and right now I want to put the low to the back of my mind and just enjoy today :up:

 

[haxman]

I don't remember Maradona for the hand ball incident, I remember him as the greatest player I've ever seen.

I remember him for the other goal he scored in that game, one of the greatest goals ever scored.

 

[3Dnata]

I was just streaming a Spanish channel to try and find the valencia game-Henry has been taken out of the Gillette advert I'm not sure of the face they've stuck on his body but he has got to be worried about his pension:rofl: