BAD LUCK OF THE IRISH

Isn't world soccer's governing body FIFA in a bit of a pickle over the hand of Henry affair?

In case you've missed the kerfuffle which has become a full-blown international incident, France has qualified for next year's World Cup, but only after a late goal in the second-leg qualifier against Italy -- the goal coming as a result of a blatant hand ball from the French captain and superstar Thierry Henry, who touched the ball not once, but twice, in setting up a William Gallas header.

Reminiscent of Diego Maradona in the infamous victory for Argentina over England back in 1986.

And here, to rub salt into the Irish wound, Henry admitted his sin in the immediate aftermath. His misdeamenour was blatantly obvious, but in past sporting contests, that hasn't necessarily equated to an admission of guilt by the offending parties.

Henry's confession without remorse has inflamed the already hostile Irish supporters. It means, along with the presence of seemingly irrefutable video evidence, there cam be no debate about the legitimancy of the French equaliser. The French goal should not have been allowed. And it should not have determined that France is off to the World Cup finals in South Africa at the expense of Ireland.

The outpouring of scorn has been predictable. The Irish Football Association has appealed to FIFA for the match to be replayed, but that is likely to fall on deaf ears.

And the matter has reached diplomatic levels with condemnation from the Irish Prime Minister and a 'let's leave politics out of sport' response from his French counterpart.

The whole episode predictably raises questions about extra officials and video replays to rule on contentious decisions.

But more to the point it raises the issue of honesty in sport. On one hand we implore participants to fess up, to have sport played in an honourable manner. However, here we have a player, rather than being coy about a wrong-doing, telling it the way it was -- and inflaming the matter even further. It was almost as if, in admitting to the crime, Theirry Henry was laughing in the faces of the Irish he hurt most.

And this will do nothing to foster similar confessions in the future.

To really rectify an onfield discretion, Henry should have pleaded guilty at the very moment the referee was making his ruling. But with a World Cup spot at stake and the weight of a nation on his shoulders, surely that was asking too much.

And, afterall, players will tell us it all evens out in the end. Referees miss some one way, and then the other.

So where does that leave us? Unfortunately, status quo. Seal thy lips. Say nothing. Mum's the word.

Just let the officials call it as they see it. Off-field honesty means little unless it comes with on-field honesty beforehand.