VIDEO: Thierry Henry – Do You Still Want Him?

I crack up at the term "CHEATERS" when every foul committed and every advantage gained via a bent rule could be considered "CHEATING" by the expanded definition of "broken rule" = broken integrity....is deception cheating? Is running into an offside position AND allowing the ball to be played through for someone who is not offside after you convinced the defenders to stop because you stopped...is that CHEATING? PLEASE! A dive in the box ? and in this case a handball only means he's HUMAN!!! Calling Henry a cheater is like calling a guy who ate too much on Thanksgiving A GLUTTON....technically correct when applied to the one situation but hardly applicable to the rest of the year OR in the case of Titi: his brilliant career which I hope will take him to NEW YORK!!!!! GO RED BULLS!!!!

I definitely want Titi on my team!

Fouls are committed in every game. Officials make bad calls, no calls, and wrong calls every game and each event alters the flow of the game. This is what happens in sports. Its FIFA's decision at this point.

Henry is no less of a great player in my eyes.

Of course. I would have him in a heartbeat. These things happen all the time in football. The only difference here was that the stakes were so high and so much attention was being paid to the match. The only thing we should take from this match is that video replay on controversial goals is badly needed.

Here is a GREAT chance for Henry to become a legend. He should hold a press conference this weekend. He should say, my intent at the moment was to hand the ball (it is obvious by the video). It was wrong. I would like to reach out to FIFA and UEFA to reply the final 30 minutes, if not an entire game at a neutral site and the aggregate should be 1 to 1. Winner advances to the World Cup. I would like to apologize for my actions, both during the 103rd minute and after the game.

Reason: It would finally acknowledge that not all footballers are about cheating and getting away with it and blaming the ref for not making the call, as if it is okay then. Like robbing a bank, but the camaras capturing the robbery were turned off.

I would still like Henry to play the remainder of his career in NY, however, unless he speaks out HONESTLY, it will forever be a mark on him. Regarding Maradona, the second greatest player of all time, he was a street punk who is expected to do such, and still continues to carry himself without dignity, e.g. his facing a ban by FIFA. Great player, not a Great man. Understand.

Here is a GREAT chance for Henry to become a legend. He should hold a press conference this weekend. He should say, my intent at the moment was to hand the ball. It was wrong. I would like to reach out to FIFA and UEFA to reply the final 30 minutes, if not an entire game at a neutral site and the aggreage should be 1 to 1. Winner advances to the World Cup. I would like to apologize for my actions, both during the 103rd minute and after the game.

Reason: It would finally acknowledge that not all footballers are about cheating and getting away with it and blaming the ref for not making the call, as if it is okay then. Like robbing a bank, but the camaras capuring the robbery were turned off.

I would still like Henry to play the remainder of his career in NY, however, unless he speaks out HONESTLY, it will forever be a mark on him. Regarding Maradonna, the second greatest player of all time, he was a street punk who is expected to do such, and still continues to carry himself without dignity, e.g. his facing a ban by FIFA. Great player, not a Great man. Understand.

@Joamiq, so you're saying that no Red Bull has ever intentionally handled the ball?? Or ever committed a foul on purpose?? You're delusional if you think that.

I'm pretty sure if Henry was a Metro, everybody would take us seriously.

Nope. Don't want him. I'd like the Red Bulls to be taken seriously, not to be known as the home of the cheat. Let's go after someone else, like an attacking mid.

We should all write to FIFA Tom.

Of course I still want him on my team. Henry did the honorable thing (heh) by admitting he handled the ball. Atleast he didn't try to do one of those clever denial things that professional athletes love to do oh so much.

Cheat? Maybe... should we still sign him? Definitely. Just because Maradonna handballed against England didn't mean that he wasn't as good as a footballer. Durrrrr, if anything Fifa should expand replay, and use of technology. My argument for the inclusion of technology is something like this: say you need life-saving surgery... do you go to the doctor with all the new technology and tools to ensure that your surgery is a success? Or do you go to the doctor from the 1700's who thinks that blood-letting is the proper way to cure a cold? I digress...

*Writing a letter to FIFA*

Dave,

Just a little bit of history to show how these things even out. Everybody remembers the hand of god, but very few recall what Argentinians call 'el robo del siglo' (the robbery of the century) at the hands of the English team in 1966. That was ultimate another referee error that influenced the outcome of the game.

As per instant replay, I would rather see another lineman behind the goal instead. It would be more natural since we already have instances of the referees conferencing with their assistants for certain calls. That way you still have the element of human nature that makes the sport so great.

Cheers

Wanted some replies before I let my opinion be known. Frankly, Henry's cheating isnt as clear cut as Maradonas, and he did what every coach tells their players to do; play through. Don't stop. Just keep moving. And by doing so, he netted one under the nose of the referees in a crucial game. Cheating is always wrong, but, in sports, he who stops moving will be made the goat. In the end, this falls in FIFA's lap. Instant replay or no?

I also agree that it was more of a reaction in the moment than premeditated cheating. Henry didn't deny it, and like he said, he's not the ref. It's a shame for Ireland, but theses things do even out. Sometimes calls go your way, and sometimes they don't.
As far as it affecting Henry's chances of coming here, that's a joke. RBNY needs to spend the money and put together a good team. The new stadium is only going to keep fans interested for so long. NYC is the biggest media market in the world. We are not going to get top players here, but what international player slightly past their prime wouldn't want to play in this city? They might be able to finally enjoy the game without the pressure of having to produce on top international teams. Plus, it's not such a bad place to live. It beats Columbus.

The red Bulls would be STUIP is this was a deciding factor. I doubt Henry would move from Barca to NYC. I figure he'd go back to Arsenal first.

I think it was more of a reaction, than him trying to cheat. I've seen PLENTY of people inadvertently stick their hand out to stop a ball without thinking twice about it. The only problem here, is the situation it happened in. If we do sign him, and I REALLY hope we do, I will still cheer for him as loud as I can. People have done MUCH worse things than a hand ball. So let's just leave this on YouTube, and move on.

i'd say keep him away. we don't need cheaters on our team. spend the limited money on someone else.

Pico, I am with you. As an Argentino who celebrated wildly as a 6 year old when El Mano De Dios happened, I can't say a word. I don't condone the act, but in the end, it will be a glitch in his career.

Of course. As far as I can remember Maradona's career did not suffer from his more blatant hand of god, and he idolized by Argentinians and fondly remembered in Italy. The only ones complaining about it 24 years later are the English, and what good has it done for them. None!

There is a pretty good blog entry from Axel Torres about why it is absurd to vilify Henri for what he did.

http://app.marca.com/blogs/Con...

Cheers