ONTD FOOTBALL

Keano: Thank you, Titi

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has issued a statement responding to Thierry Henry's earlier assertions that he felt that Wednesday's game between France and Giovanni Trapattoni's side should probably be replayed in the interests of fairness.

Henry had earlier refuted suggestions that he was a cheat, despite admitting that he had handled the ball in the run-up to France's winning goal, and accepted that a replay would be a just outcome after the controversy that has followed the incident.

The statement, on the FAI's official website, reads:

"On behalf of the Republic of Ireland players, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for his statement this afternoon (Friday) that in his opinion a replay would be the fairest option.

"As captain of the French team, to make such a statement took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that. As captain of the Republic of Ireland team, I would also be happy for a replay to happen in the interest of fair play so that whichever team qualifies, can do so with their heads held high.

"We can only hope that the French Football Federation might accept the wishes of both captains in the best interests of the game."

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EDIT--------

Arsenal Manager Wenger Leaps To The Defence Of Henry

"I feel Thierry will feel vindicated in a wrong way because anybody who has played football can understand these kind of reactions.

"He was the big loser in this story, because if he had come out and said 'it was a handball', half of France would say 'how crazy is he?' to cut off the road to the World Cup. And if he doesn't say it straight away then he is as well guilty.

"Thierry Henry has played here for 10 years basically and has always been super fair. Football and sport in general is full of heroes who have cheated 10 times more than Thierry.

"If someone has to do something for Thierry Henry it is French football and France as a country, and not leave him out there alone against the whole world."

( More... )

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to me, Henry was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. lose/lose situation for him. sucks bad. and it's horrible that it happened to a player like him who was in no doubt a fine fine player in a lot of people's minds before this mess.