"The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well." – Pierre de Coubertin
What transpired on the field of Stade de France last week, would linger in the minds of football fraternity for a very long time. After all, this is a second “hand of god” wherein, the first enabled the demigod of Argentina Africa . Fair play and skills should dictate the outcome of a sport and not treachery. I don’t intend to smear Henry but his little aberration has given a birth to a ghost that it would be impossible to exorcise for years to come.
It seems fate is not without a sense of irony, (quote borrowed) as Henry comes from the same country as a certain visionary who advocated the spirit of playing and being sport. Times have changed where only the goal matters most and not the means which when achieved isn’t bothered. Notwithstanding the match fixing scandals and rise of racist views, this punches a deep hole in to the very beauty of sport and sportsmanship. Probably from Henry’s perspective, this would be his last chance to play in the football finals at an international level and in a rush of madness left a trail of melee behind. I feel pity for him, if he had been truthful, he would have been condemned by his own countrymen in spite of his greatness. We live in a world were past good deeds are forgotten and thrive on what holds for the future.
This could be easily avoided in the future only if FIFA takes steps toward assisting referees with technology as in other sports which they aren't inclined to do and god knows why.
PS: I could not help but feel pity of a certain Trappatoni (as a manager) who for the second time in this decade has been felled by a referee’s fault in a do or die game. He was the manager of the Azzuris in the 2002 WC 1-2 defeat to South Korea
6 comments:
Football is not cricket.
Henry is no Gilchrist.
May be football isn't a gentleman's game, but to compare Henry and Gilchrist is by no means right. Each an icon in their own field and mind you Gilly is no saint.
Well said. I guess thats the way most of the sport is heading towards. There is more importance on winning at any cost rather playing with true sportmanship. As you said, technology can be used in all these decisions. As for Henry, it will be a dark event on his remarkable career.
poor fellow...
Good thought buddy. But someone has to vigorously take some initiative to bring in technology into the game. This will definitely help the sports and sportsmen to play their game with true sportsmanship. However, I hope this will not happen in an overnight. Let's see. Anyway a different post to read.
Even though the two decisive handball incidents are only twenty odd years apart, there are much more sophisticated pieces of equipment recording events than there were during Maradona's hand-of-god match. Indeed, there can be no way that Henry's handball will not be captured on tape. I think Henry fell prey to his haste in the spur of the moment.
Passion for the sport killed the purpose of sports, in this case.
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