Injustice will cost us dearly
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THE matter of Thierry Henry's cheating is very serious. It is not just about the feelings of the Irish team and fans, or the integrity of the game, or setting a poor example to children -- although all those things are important.
The unquestioning acceptance by world football authorities of the French team's theft of a place in the World Cup finals is deeply sinister.
Big money is involved here.
FIFA's decision to seed the qualifier games created the perception that it wanted "big" countries to qualify, and the aftermath of Wednesday night's cheating seems to confirm that.
This is not to suggest for a moment that the Swedish referee was party to an unspoken conspiracy to help big money-spinning countries get to South Africa. No, no.
The benefits snatched from this country, had we won, are huge.
Apart from the cost to the FAI of an estimated €30m, Ireland's participation in the finals next summer would have given the economy an enormous shot in the arm.
It might not have lifted us completely out of recession, but it would have helped.
Who can put a price on morale?
FIFA's condoning of the French captain's cheating has cost this country dearly, perhaps billions in economic terms.
The FAI is right to seek a replay and our politicians are right to speak out.
But the only people who can undo the harm now are the French.
Will they do the honourable thing and demand that the game be replayed?
Will they what?
