SPORTSMEN: Being known as a cheat is the price they pay

2009/11/23

JAMES GONZALEZ, Kuala Lumpur

SHAME! Shame! Shame! on France for cheating its way into next year's World Cup soccer finals. Thousands, if not, millions of soccer fans around the world witnessed French striker Thierry Henry handle the ball before defender William Gallas scored from close range to give France a 1-1 draw in the return leg of their play-off, and a 2-1 aggregate win.

With this win, France secured a berth in next year's World Cup finals in South Africa. What a dishonourable way to make it to the finals.

Even Henry admitted it was a handball and very casually said that he was not the referee. This remark speaks for his integrity as a footballer and human being.

What baffled me was why none of the Fifa officials intervened and, by not arbitrating, they played a role in bringing the game into disrepute.

In an era when there are closed-circuit television cameras positioned at all angles, I am sure Fifa officials could have asked to see a spontaneous replay and advised the referee. What were both the linesmen doing when they were supposed to assist the referee?

French captain Thierry Henry has confessed that he handled the ball in the build-up to the goal that secured his country’s qualification for the World Cup finals at the expense of Ireland.

Even the protests by the Irish players were not entertained. Can Fifa president Sepp Blatter let soccer fans all over the world know why their protests were not entertained?

Henry will go down in the annals of football as a cheat like Diego Maradona, who did the same during the England-Argentina match in the 1986 World Cup.

Joining the league are Marion Jones, who had to return her five gold medals won at the Sydney Olympics, and Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Cheating is a despicable act, be it in sports, politics or business and should be condemned by all people with integrity in the most vociferous way.