Pele Says Ireland Play-off Result was Unfair; Defends Thierry Henry Handball

(WFI) Brazilian football legend Pelé says the result of the Republic of Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France was unfair but insists a replay would be too complicated.

Thierry Henry's obvious handball helped France to a 2-1 victory over Ireland last week and a berth at next summer’s World Cup.

Speaking on a visit to Ireland on Thursday, Pele suggested a replay between the teams would set an unhealthy precedent. He said that teams involved in other games where results were clouded in controversy would also expect replays.

“It would be very complicated, you have a lot of other matches that was almost the same, different goals, but almost the same,” Pele told a press conference.

“If you have a replay you need to change dates, you need to change the tournament, you have to have a rule for the replay, will it be one game or two games or penalty kicks? To have a new game would be very difficult.”

Pele also defended Henry and said he believed the player had handled the ball accidentally.

His comments came in Dublin where he was boosting fundraising efforts for two hospitals, one in Brazil for which he serves as an ambassador.

Pele said he had discussed the possibility of having referees behind the goals officiating international games at FIFA meetings with president Sepp Blatter and German legend Franz Beckenbauer. UEFA is currently experimenting with five match officials, including one behind each goal, in its Europa League competition.

"All the problems that are created are inside of the box. Somethings the referee cannot see, the linesman could help, but even the linesman doesn't see the game. If you have a referee behind the goals, you avoid all those problems,” he said.

In remarks about fouling in football, Pele also spoke out about Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal which helped knock England out of the Mexico 1986 World Cup.

“Before that [Henry's handball], the worst was Maradona's scoring a goal with his hand. That was in a World Cup. This is a mistake,” he was quoted in Ireland’s Evening Herald. “Always you're going to have someone who'll try to do something [illegal].”

Written by Mark Bisson

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