It just seems to me that even though missed calls have always been a part of the game that a limited use of replay would be encouraged. Particularly when probably tens of millions of dollars (or Euros or whatever) are riding on whether a particular team gets to the World Cup or not. I mean..that goal had huge financial repercussions across the globe. Sportsmanship not withstanding..

I'm sorry for Ireland, but honestly, but they had several chances to score and failed. And who knows, if Henry hadn't touched the ball with his hand, he might still have scored.

If you open the can of worms and allow replays for every foul, hands, pushing, holding, offside, yadda yadda yadda that a ref misses, you'll never get a match finished. Refs *do* make mistakes. They are only human after all, and don't have 360 degree vision that sees through players. It's all part of what football is. I don't want us to become a mockery of the sport like American Football, where they spend more time challenging calls and watching video replays, than actually playing the damn game.

Aww. come on, son. You've done your fair share of mocking the English over the years. What goes around. . . . .

Hmm, Zidane wasn't exactly a class act...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4iWIE77Ts

Very very few footballers of today have integrity and class.

It won't, why would it? This is far from the first time that something like this has happened. The football equivalent of Hawkeye has laready been totally ruled out.

Quite rightly so. Hawkeye is totally unsuitable for a free-flowing game such as Football.

I play soccer in a huff & puff league where the rules are a little more relaxed for us old guys. That hand ball would have been called every freeking time and the offender would usually have the dignity to call it on themselves.

Win at all costs, right? It's a hollow victory that everyone knows they do not deserve.

Anyone remembers the handball by Abel Xavier in the France V Portugal match in the Euro2000?

Portugal scored first and France managed to equalize forcing the game into overtime, then when everyone believed the game was going into penalty kicks this happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RXzBkRXhm4#t=1m20s

Many asked: If it was the other way around would the referee sanction the foul?

I guess today we know the answer.

Ireland like other teams have benefited in the past from inaccurate decisions, so I think they should act with some dignity and just move on.

This is why all sports are crap! If this game was played right, there'd only be one rule: YOU HAVE TO GET THE BALL INTO THE OPPOSING TEAM'S GOAL!

No need for refs. Once everyone understands the one rule, let 'er rip! That'll sort the men from the boys! Imagine the carnage on the path to the World Cup!

And, it would make sports people worthy of their salaries, unlike now, when soldiers are paid sh*t while prima donna sports dandies rake it in!

Cheers!

Rick...