If you’re into sports, like me, you know that the use of instant replay technology can make a huge impact on the outcome of a game. In the case of a recent soccer playoff, the lack of instant replay potentially cost Ireland’s national team a trip to the 2010 World Cup. Their opponent, France, was able to score the winning goal when French striker Thierry Henry admittedly touched the ball illegally with his hand. As a result of the goal, Ireland failed to qualify for a trip to South Africa.
Henry believes it’s the referee’s responsibility to make that call. Ireland believes they deserve another shot. The team was denied a request for the game to be played over. But now, they are asking FIFA to include them as the 33rd team in the 32-team field.
What do you think? Is referee error part of the game? Or do the Irish deserve a spot in the World Cup?
Jeremy Dunn, CNNSN Producer
I dont think it is a good idea at all because physical fitness is not what school is about at all. School is about learning to do something for a career.
irish definitely deserve a spot, if he admitted to an illegal touch they should have won. I say take the French out and put the Irish in. No need to add a 33rd team.
Referee mistakes have always been part of the game and make it interesting. The same thing could have happened to France.
I think that the Irish should stay out. Even if they had wanted to argue it, and even with his admitting statement, they couldn't be sure of whether it actually happened. I think the Irish should stay out, and just do better to not get in that situation next year.
I think it is the referees job to make the calls and what they say goes you can't change what the think happened.
I understand that mistakes are part of the game (I've learned from playing since age 5). But not only did the head referee miss that call, the linesmen also missed the fact that Henry was offsides before the hand ball happened. If anything, another game should be played between Ireland and France to see who goes through to the final. It is not fair for Ireland to be forced to wait another 4 years until they get another shot at becoming World Champions, all because of a missed call.
Rules are rules. France broke the rules, so I think they should rematch. I won't stand it if Ireland stayed out and France won, all because of an unfair match.
The happening was so unfair for Ireland national team. Everybody knows Henry did touch the ball.
However, the World Cup is competitions between 32 national teams. So I don't think Ireland can be given a spot exeptionally.
I think that the Irish should have a chance at the game. The rules are that you can't touch the ball with your hands. They should have a rematch or just pick the game up from where the French touched the ball to score the goal. Everyone should have a shot and if that shot was used to cheat like the French, then the Irish should have a shot.
Since Irish lost by an illegal touch that cost them the game, they need a rematch with France. It would be unfair if this situation is unsolved. There was a greater possibility of Irish entering the World Cup.
i think that they should let the irish play in the world series. if it was such a big deal than they should have sais somthing at the game instead of later on.how would you fell if someone did this to you? id feel horrible!!!!!
I think they should just have a tie-breaker to see if they could win once. I think that would be fair. If I was the one that hit it with my hand I would feel really bad and I would want to do it over.
I think that irish should get a shot at the world cup.
Yes I believe they should still be in the world cup.
i think they should let them
i dont think it is was fare he cheated
I think that Ireland should win because France kind of cheated when one person touched the ball to stop it.
i think that they lost fair for the game and there is not anything they can do about it the french won
I think that the Irish definetly deserve a spot in the cup. France cheated and since they won France moves and Ireland becomes a 33rd team then the cup needs a 34th team to keep it even.
I think that the ref. did make a bad call but they shouldn't have cheated and now that they know that they cheated they should play another game.
I think the game should be replayed. If his hand had not touched the ball illegaly, who knows what might have happened? The outcome of the game could have been completely different.
its a game our parents tell us to play for fun so there is always next time get over it ireland!
I don't think they need a rematch against the French because the referee missed the call, people do that all the time. But the past is the past and you can't really do anything about it now.
I think that they should jsut play a rematch to see who can get the next point, because if it was tied and it was one point, just play to see who can get the next point!
I think that it was a bad call and that Irland and France should have a rematch because in soccor you can't use your hands
I think the irish should be in the world cup the fernch guy cheated and admitted to it so kick the fench and have the irish play
they should rematch with no rules so it is fun to watch and who ever get the most goals gets the spot
I think that the Irish should stop complaining and play by the rules like the rest of the teams and then hopefully next time they will follow the rules and they could have more practice too.
the thing is that the guy admited to it and just let Ireland go into it because they won fair and square
I say let them use there hands
I think that Ireland should be able to have a rematch against France because it was one mistake and there could have been a lot of other bad calls in the game that might have contributed to their position. If Ireland beats France in the rematch then that clearly states that they deserve a spot in the World Cup. I think that everybody deserves a second chance and that they could use a 33rd team in the World Cup.
even though i do not play the sport of soccer like almost every other sport there is some type of vedio efendence for like a buzzer beater in basketball or like a amazing toe touch grab in football to see if he got the winng touch down. so the irish should not be in the tourement if there was vedio efendence there irish would be in but sense there was not they should not be asking for a rematch the ref of the game made a good call if the play was not visable\
I think the Irish deserve a chance to participate in the World Cup or they should rematch.
The people at the game should decide if the game is legitamate.
Ireland should have a shot in the world cup because thats just the right thing to do.
There should be a rematch due to human error.
That is retarted I think refs should be able to replay it on camera during the game. I am 12 and I play a lot of soccer. I have seen this happen alot. They should be able to replay to make it fair.
i think they should give ireland another chance
i dont care because i dont like soccer i like football and i never see soccer games on tv
i think they should of called it because it wasnt fair because they knew they were gonna lose so they cheated just to win but it should of been a tie
The referee shouldn't have made the mistake in the first place. France should not be allowed to go, and Ireland should get to go. I think that's really lame how he even addmitted to the mistake, and their still letting him go. This is why I don't watch soccer.
I think that instant replays should be used, because its not fair that the france team get to cheat! I know how unfair it is for someone to cheat and you not be able to do anything about it.
They should redo the game
if he uses his hands it should be elegal in the game
The Irish might deserve a chance at the Cup, but the French did beat them. FIFA rules do say that all calls are final, and there was no calls on the "touch", even if he admitted to it. It's up to the referee to make the calls and if they don't there's nothing any team can do about it. It's the same in all sports.
the french know how to play and they know the rules so it was kinda stupid for them to illegally touch the ball and make the goal they should have redone the play.
i think that the irish should get a chance to try to get into the world soccer cup and win a high ranked in the league and if they don't they just have to deal with it but its not up to me its up to the Ref
I think that if the rules state that all referee calles are final, then the game is fair and France wins. but seeing as Thierry Henry admitted to touching the ball then Ireland should get a shot at the world cup.
i think they deserve another shot. The referrey could have made an error. There should def. be a replace. Maybe the referrey might even had made a mistake. But they should have another try in the series.
I think that they should still go on to the world cup. The referee error was definantly part of the game ( in my own opinion), but they always make mistakes. If they don't get into the world cup this time, then maybe they'll get a chance next time.
I think that referee error is part of the game, but this game was a big deal. They should have a rematch so it would be fair. Or just put Ireland in there too with France. I dont think it was fair that one quick call should keep a team from staying in the world cup when they deserve it.
I think that Irish should deserve a spot in the World Cup, because France admitted to having a player illegally touch the ball. France should be out of the World Cup and Ireland should be put in. Yes, referees have a major say in the game, but if the player admitted to it, the referee should just agree and give the game to Ireland.
I believe Ireland should have a shot in the World Cup. It was the referees fault for not calling the mistake. Ireland deserves a shot at the title. It is no fair that there is no play backs. We were all taught to play fairly. They should replay the game to settle all the nonsense.
Its like in any sport that is played. There is always a referee that calls the rules or fouls in the game. Every referee makes a mistake in a game. I think Ireland should be allowed to be in the FIFA World Cup. A rematch wouldn't be a good idea because its not going to help anything. Ireland should keep on fighting this mess and maybe get there shot at the FIFA title.
Ireland should be aloud to play in the world cup and france should be disqualified for cheating. If FIFA doesn't punish teams for cheating they're going to think they can get away with anything over time and soccer won't be fair.
I believe that it is not apart of the game. I think Irish should be able to go to the world cup they should as least have a chance. They are he only ones who hasn't had a chance at it. Well they should have a re-match to see who should really be in the world cup.
I think that the Irish deserve a spot in the World Cup. The referee made that horrible call on the Irish's part. The Irish should be the ones going to the World Cup. One of Frances players made a illegal move and they still won because of that move, it is not right that the referee's error caused the Irish to lose this important game. The Irish should be the ones going to South Africa.
I think that Ireland should get a chance because they've never played in the field in Africa. Also, because Henry had touched the ball illegally.
I thimk that if France illegally touched the ball then they need to be disqualifeid from the tournament because they might just cheat then too. We cant afford loser by cheaters.
I personally think that ireland deserves a chance next year as a 33rd team. it is not fair if they don't because thats basically like chance cheated and the ref didn't see it if they had instant replay then ireland would have won.
Referee error is part of the game. Referees cant see everything that happens at all times. If they replay a lot of other games they will probably see a lot of other errors the refs had made, and that could probably effect something.
I also say that if the France dude admits that he had a hand ball, then the Irish should be the 32nd team and France should be out of it, for waiting that long to admit what happened.
Go Irish!
I play soccer at my high school. Trust me referee's make bad calls all the time it's just part of the game. You just have to get over it, and live with what happens. They can always try next year.
I think that Ireland should be ablke to try again seeing as Henry admitted to touching the ball with his hands.
Go Ireland!!!
Well I didn't make the rules for soccer nor do I know all the rules but I don't think it's fair what they're doing to Ireland. If people witnessed it then they should get a second chance. They should have a re-match, because they have never gotten a chance at the world cup and it was against the rules.
irish should get a spot in the world cup i think that french and the irish shoul play one more time i dont think it was the referre was doing somthing bad he was just doing his job.
I feel that Ireland should definitely be placed on the 33rd spot. i say this because everyone agrees that it was a handball and it is clearly unfair to have Ireland eliminated. To resolve this problem, I think there should be a rematch. If not, Ireland should have a 33rd spot. It was the referee's mistake, not Ireland.
I think that they should have a re-match to determine the 32nd team. Soccer should allowed to have instant replays, because like in this case, they are not always able to see everything that happens. This could happen at any time, not just in this case. The other team admitted to illegally touching the ball, which was a nice thing to do, so they should not be able to qualify. They should have a fair re-match.
This happens all the time in soccer. Referees miss a lot and it might not always be fair. Maybe the Irish do deserve to be in the world cup should, but you really need to think was there anything ireland did that the referees didn't call?
I think they should deffinetly have rematch! I played soccer when I was little and the excatly the same thing happened. it's completly unfair!!!
the irish should still deserve a spot. i'm serious. it's not fair to the irish
I think Ireland should have a rematch because it SHOULD be the referee's call.
I used to play soccer and this happens a lot. Even in sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. Its just part of the game so Ireland shouldn't get a spot
I think that there should be reviews to make the game fair that way if something did not happen the referees will be sure that that is what had happened in the game and all the referees should consult after calling it.
I think that France should still be in the World Cup because there are no instant replays in soccer. The referee did not see him touch the ball with his hands. If the referee did not see what happend then you just keep on playing. Even though Henry admitted that he touched the ball France should still be in the World Cup. But maybe FIFA is going to let Ireland be the 33rd team.
I think that Ireland should go to the soccer game because they never won a prize like that before.
I think that there should be a rematch. IF you lose to an error, just play it over again
i think that they ned to have a rematch because that's not fair how France stole their win
i think that is not far and they should be able to play them or get that point back
Well rules are rules to me, if they can do something about it then change it. If not then there is no sense in crying about it.
yea i think they should just play
Thats just part of the game they just need to take the loss obviously people know about what happened and nothing is going to change what happened.
I think that is bull that someone grab a soccer ball and set it up in the end of the game. so oh!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think its not fair to ireland but they do need to respect the referee, the referees are actually on the feild while the game is going on so you should go by what the referee says plus maybe if ireland wants to win next year they need to do a little bit better.
thats not rite. if he touched the ball with his hands then they should have called him on it thats not rite!!!!!
i think they should let the game be like it is no rematch or anything because if you pay real close attention to a game you can see pushing and fake dives sometimes even hand balls with out being called. this wasn't the first hand ball i have seen in a game i have seen messi and maradona make a goal with there hand and still get away with it .
I think that the Ireland team should be able to go to south Africa because the other team broke the rules! Also FIFA should really get some instant replay cameras
Ireland should have a rematch against France again to determine who won so there is no more misconception. This happens a lot in soccer. Referees miss a lot and sometimes people disagree with the referee. Whenever this happens there should be a rematch. Ireland should have a chance to prove that they are able to move on.
I think Ireland should be back in the game. If the referees arent quick enough to catch mistakes, that shouldnt be the end of the game. I dont think its fair.
I think ireland should not go to the world cup because they lost because they used there hands. It would not be fair to go when you did not follow the rules
I think the irirsh team doe not desere to compete in the World cup
i also think the should not play soccer no more because they made a terrible mistake. Thanks.
they should play by the rules so they are out
Well i think that its just a sport and if the ref says Ireland lost then they lost. And there is always another chance next year. I play soccer to and if you play any sport you need to know how to win and lose.
I don't play soccer but I know you cannot use your hands unless you are throwing it back on the field. Using you hands should be an automatic penalty. If it is the world cup, and if they know that France used their hands when they are not allowed, then I think Ireland should get another shot.
I think that Ireland should go to the World Cup. The French knew using their hands was illegal but they did it any way.
The Irish definitely deserve to go to the World Cup or at least get a rematch. The French did touch the ball with their hands which is against the rules.
I think that Ireland should get another shot. The referees calls are part of the game.
I think they should accept the loss and try again next season. If they wanted to win they should have tried 110%.
I think the referees sohuld have been paying attention to the game. If they didn't catch the cheating, they shouldn't have that job. The only reason the referees wouldn't have called their call is if they were from France. What I'm trying to say is the Irish deserve a spot in the top 32.
I think that Ireland should get another chance. It isn't logical that they don't have anyway of seeing what happened. The referee made a mistake and Ireland should get another chance at the win to become 33rd team, besides everyone seems to know that France had used their hands illegally, even the France player himself. This is the world cup people....... its important. So it's important that every thing done is done fairly and legally.
I, myself am Irish and i went to the pub to watch the important match. I am a big football fanatic and i think terry henry should be suspended. If the Irish team tried there HARDEST to be out by a hand ball that is absurd. If the game continued the way it did then Ireland could have won in a penalty shootout. The reson Ireland lost even though Ireland and France tied was because in the qualifiers for the tournement countries have to play 2 games. one game from where each team is from. Since Ireland lost in Ireland at croke park and tied in France ( because the hand ball that was 18 minutes into extra time) we were out because aggregets. If Ireland tied 2-2 then they would have gone through because they would have got 2 goals away from home. and france would have got one because they won 1-0 in Ireland.
Irealnd could have gone through but terry henry , the guy who did the hand ball, ruined those chances. I think that he intended to do that so france should face consequences. If FIFA did decide to take action, they should
> Let Ireland replace france in the visit to south africa
> Have a penalty shootout
> Have a re-match
FIFA is thinking about adding the replay cameras and i think they should if the desision could affect the game. I am irish and i think FIFA (Federation Internatational Football Assosiation) should take action!
I am a socce ref my self and it is hard to see everything that is going on on the field.But rules are rules and the rules of soccer say that you can't touch the ball in play unless you are the keeper. So i think that that goal shou definatly not of counted.
I think that if France illegally touched the ball then it is not fair to Ireland that France got to the world cup by cheating. Therefore they should either rematch or let Ireland into the world cup. I'm serious.
I think that Ireland should've had a free kick and Ireland and France should both go to Africa. FIFA should allow refs to see the replay like the NFL.
I think that Ireland should have free kick and Ireland and Franch should both go to Africa. FIFA should let refs see the replays like in the NFL.
a rule is a rule. you wouldn't let someone get away with stealing would you?
I think the fact that Frances' team touched the ball with their hands should automatically disqualify them for the World Cup. Ireland has never won a World Cup, they should be given a chance.
I think Ireland should at least get another shot at beating France or just be allowed to go.
It's clear Henry used his hand, however if Ireland had capitalized on earlier chances there would have been no overtime, and thus no hand ball. The referees made an error, but you can't put all the blame on them.
We're able to see replays on American football. So, why can't there be replays for the world's football?
I think Ireland deserves to go to Africa, and France will stay. FIFA should allow the refs to see the replays. Things have to change through time.
i think that the should be it because they illgal used their hands so the other team should be out and them in.
Referees make mistakes all the time and what the referee says goes. But I think they should add an instant replay camera like in the NFL
I think that France should have a free kick because, just like in a youth soccer if there is a hand ball the other team gets to have a free kick from where they did a hand ball at.
They should be aloud another shot because the refferee is the one to call the fouls and that is not what has happened. I think a rematch shall be held and that who ever wins should recieve the 32nd spot in the world cup.
I think the Irish deserve a spot in the World Cup, because they worked hard, and it was the refferee's fult that he didn't call it.
The ref made a bad call it happens.
I think that the Irish should be able to have a chance to get the world cup because they have never gotten it before so i think that it would be only fair. There is no need for the French to win again because they have won sevrel times before. But, that is my opinion.
This is a hard decision but I think they should go with the offical rules of soccer and not let Ireland go and let the officails call stay as it is........
The Ireland soccer team deserves another shot at making it to the world cup the should rightfully be there and I think that FIFA should add instant replay so it can be used in the 2010 world cup and in other soccer games
I think that the Irish should have there spot in the 2010 world cup.
I think that Ireland should still get to go to South Africa and the past is the past and referees make mistakes all the time and you just need to let it go!
I think that they should do a rmatch nto make it fare. Because the other team cheated
Referee error happens plenty of times in all sports. But that doesnt make it part of the game. France should have just told the truth if they did touch the ball, but no one can force them to do so.
I think that they should not be allowed in the World Cup, because in other sports like baseball, football, hockey, or basketball, there are mistakes that don't get changed. It is a part of the game, and they should deal with it.
i dont like the physical thing at all because school is not about fitness its about learning
I think that they should not get placed for 33rd. But get another chance if the instant replay showed that the player used his hands to score the goal.
I trhink the ball would have ben in the same place if it was moved by the player's foot. Ireland deserves to be in the world cup.
The bad call should deffinetly be called for a penalty and a red card. If there is a referee in football and other sports yet they still have instant replay, then soccer probably needs it more.
At least a rematch, if not Irish going in and French coming out. It's just fair
I have no idea what soccer is about, but I think that the referre made a bad choice. It was ilegal and there shouyld be something in the rules about ilegal plays, right? If not...they should change the rules.
i think that ireland should be allowed to play in the world cup because france cheated and cheating is wrong.
i think its unfair what they did to ireland. they should get another shot, maybe they should take france out for the illegal play and give ireland their spot. thats the best idea and its only fair!
I think it is the referres fault because he should have called it instead. And I think that they should let them go to the world cup
I think Ireland sould be in the 23 teams because he did touch the ball with his hands therefor France should be penalized there are rules that everybody needs to follow.
i think both wayss....
I agree they should get another chance but they should have not cheated i think they already learned there lesson of being ashamed they need to go to South Africa
i think that they should stop talking about what happened and just have a rematch allready.
I think that the irish deserve another chance. The only reason why France won is beaceuse of a bad ref call, now is that really a satisfying victory? They should have a rematch and then see who takes a spot in the World Cup.
I think that they should deserve a spot for the cup because France didn't win it fairly and that they should have a rematch. The refs should have at least looked through that and then decided.
I think that Irsh definitly deserves a spot because the soccer rules say that whatever the ref says is final.
I dont think that it is fair that ffrace will move on with out winning fair. I think that they should statr the game from before frace had scored that way both teams have the fair chance
just give them anither shot if everyone is arguing about it just try it again. i mean its not that big of a deal,if the other team was reallly all that goood then they would win again, so give themn another chance
sometimes reffs make bad calls its just how things happen. many people make mistakes. like what happened in the soccer game between france and ireland. one of the teams players used his hands and he wasnt a golie he got charged for it as the ref called it. but not all of the refs aggreed with the call.
first of all the referee should not want any one team to win or it would be unfair.
I think that the irish should either get another chance or just go to the world cup and they should make a instant replay box for soccer because my opinon reffs are dumb
i think that they should include ireland as the 33rd team.
Ireland should be back in the game. If the referees arent quick enough to catch mistakes, I dont think its fair that because,of the referee ireland doesnt get a chance.
i think that they should because then it would be an illegaly game ,the game should be fair. so they should redo the game for an equal rematch and no one would be mad.
I think we should have sports.
I hate soccer anyway it is what it is
i think that ireland should have a nother free kick so they can both go to africa. the refs should do replays
I think the game should be called off ; no winners at all, and the teams should play again. Not eachother though.
Ireland whould get another chance and get a instant replay equipment.
nope that stinks for ireland.
The teams should play again because that was not a good call by the referee and it was not fair for the other team so they should pklay agai
i dont completly dissagree with this because kids should have a good body but bfor that reason they can pass that is crazy kids dont go to school to get juged on how they look and nhow much they weigh they get judged on what they learn. but that is also not a bad idea because that would incourage kids to loose weight.
i think ireland should get another shot at the world cup because its not there fault the referee made a mistake
I think that the Irish should be able to go to the world cup. If the French admitted that they touched the ball illegally, then they should not be able to go to the 2010 cup.
I play soccer, and I get really mad when the refferee makes a bad call, or doesn't make one at all. Since it is a professional league I think that there should at least be a rematch of the two teams so Ireland has a fair chance.
i think they bshould of let them in and take the other team out
REMATCH! rules are rules.
I think that this was not right that the other team cheated like that that is not fair im sorry but its not.
With the instant replay machines they can tell if the play was valid (correct) or invalid (incorrect) it makes big changes in football games and in other games.
The ref missed the call. Theiry Henry admmited to the handball. The Irish will not have a spot in the cup. They can't play the match over because the fatiuge of the players. Maybe Ireland deserves a spot but they lost the game. If they play the match over it won't be right. France must have had better conditioning and it is not their fault that the ref missed the call.
The player touched the ball with his hand, you know? So Ireland deserves a chance to go on. they can not call a call back so sadly France can go on and thats what FIFA is going to rule. This has already been a big year in soccer for Irealand this is the first year we have had our legue in FIFA game. Soccer is not the only big sport we have galing football, rugby, hurling and others
GO IRELAND!!!
i think sports are really important.
I'm usualy very sympathetic to these kinds of issues, but those are the rules, you can't change them. I'm sure that Ireland is sad about this and how much they deserve this second chance. You see though, they lost, no matter how much they beg to have a re-match, they shouldn't get one. It's not a matter a life and death here. It was just a bad call for the ref. Plus, France will now live with that guilt and Ireland WILL get them next year.
We think they should play again to determine the real winner.
Well in my opinion I think that it is a very wise choice to make. Parents are responsible for their kids, but then agian the kids need to more responsibale with their actions. We need to say, do I want to be lazy and not go to school because we do not feel like it, or do we want to go to school even if we do not want to and get a good education so when you get out you can get a good job and say, I am glad I went to school so I can enjoy my life. So i think that what the judge is doing is great!
I belive that the Irish should get a rematch because its not fair to win by cheating. It can make the opposing team mad and it canmakes you feel guilty for cheating.
i think that ireland should get another chance if any of you know the rules to soccer one of the most inportant rules are do not touch the ball with your hands unless it is a throw in or you are a keeper i dont even think there was a ref their because if the ref was paying attention this propley would not have happend . it was one of the most imporant games of the season serouisley that was the game to decide witch team goes to the world cup if france is even going i think that ireland should go to because thay played by the rules thay were suposed to be playing by.
I think that even if replays are not allowed to be used by FIFA rules, in this case, it should be taken into consideration as France did make an illegal shot.
Truth is truth. Replays are worth taking into account.
they should be able to get a remach
soccershould get instint replay and they wouldent have this problam again
i think that they should not count as a goal because he used his right.
so i think it should penalty shootout..............................
i play soccer and when the ref calls the play its final. they could just try next year.SORRY
I think that if they said that it was an illegal hand ball then no doubt it should be rethought. I woulden't just let it fly. The two teams should have a rematch, in the rematch they should be very careful about calling illegal plays right then.
I think that to only make it fair the teams should have a rematch, it was the referres fault.Ireland deserves a second chance.
I don't think it is fair that we are putting new tropes in Afghanistan if we are just going to be pulling them out in a few years.
It is not fair. It is the referres fault. The two teams should have a rematch and the end result would show which is the better team.
i play soccer and i cant believe that the reff didn't see that i think that they should replay the game but in the rules it says you can not play it again i think that the other team should move on. its the reff"s fault