Football Champions

(Just in case the thousands of others weren't doing it for you).
Thierry Henry's despicable handball in today's deciding World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland was probably the biggest soccer fraud since Diego Maradona's infamous "hand of God" act in 1986. The stakes, then as now, are massive: a quarterfinals berth at the World Cup then, a spot in next year's South Africa tourney now. Then and now the handball in question led to the goal that would be decisive in the match. Both times, the cheater's excuse was pathetic. At least Maradona's "hand of God" line was somewhat amusing only because it showed just what an arrogant punk he truly was. Henry's excuse: "I'm not the referee." That's not only weak, it also shows complete contempt for the game and for the principle of justice.

I mean right Thierry, you're not the referee. You're not a cop either, but surely you see the harm in stealing somebody else's property? Or collaborating with a fascist government that invaded your country?

Here's the thing though: In 1986 we all knew Maradona was a creep. He had already been fined for cocaine use and linked to the Neapolitan mafia. Thierry Henry's image, on the other hand, was pretty much squeaky clean prior to tonight. In 2006, he was hailed a role model for children by none other than UNICEF for God' s sake. What are UNICEF going to say now? Hey kids, be a cheater like this guy? You're not the referee?

Henry has been a marketer's dream: Charismatic in several languages, handsome and supremely talented. No wonder he ended up as the poster boy for so many corporations and their products.

And there you have it. Money talks. The monetary difference between France and Ireland participating in the World Cup is close to $2 billion in revenues. FIFA is clearly corrupt so it isn't that big of a leap to say this thing reaches all the way up to Sepp Blatter's shiny little office in Zurich. Sadly, there is little justice in soccer. Argentina went on to win the 1986 World Cup. West Germany and Austria blatantly fixed a match at the 1982 World Cup with virtually no repercussions. There are many other examples. So don't expect France to suffer any kind of karmic comeuppance in South Africa next summer. With our luck they'll end up winning the whole tournament.

Photo taken from unicef.org without permission.