The Ireland soccer team was one goal away from qualifying for just their fourth ever World Cup. They had played 103 solid minutes against France until they caught an unlucky break and an incorrect call cost them their World Cup hopes.
France was winning 1-0 after the first leg until Ireland's Robbie Keane scored in the 33rd minute. Eventually, the game went into extra time because it was 1-1. In the 103rd minute, Thierry Henry handled the ball very close to the goal, and he literally handled it. As the ball was about to go out of bounds, Henry used his hand to tap it back in, then passed the ball to William Gallas who scored the game-winning goal. We all remember the 2006 World Cup Final where France played Italy, but Ireland has not been in a position like France has, who usually makes it to the World Cup. It's a shame that not a single referee saw Henry use his hand and it cost Ireland a World Cup birth.
Imagine if that goal wasn't scored. It would have been tied 1-1 and the game would have gone into PKs. Who knows what would have happened: maybe Ireland would have won, maybe they wouldn't have. There was talk about replaying the game. Ireland was requesting a replay and even Henry said a replay would be the fairest solution to the dilemma, but FIFA denied Ireland's request. Soccer is one of the only sports that is live for the whole game (without breaks). A replay would be difficult, but there should at least be some type of punishment for the refs. There have been punishments in numerous sports, from basketball to football. The referees deserve a punishment, but still, nothing will make up for the blown call that sent France to the 2010 World Cup.
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