20 November,2009 12:23 PM IST | | Agencies
Yes, there was a hand, but I'm not the referee. I kept playing. The referee didn't whistle for handball. I was behind two Irish players, the ball bounced and it hit my hand.
- Thierry Henry (left) on his controversial hand-ball against republic of ireland
I told Brian Cowen (on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels) how sorry I was for them. But don't ask me to substitute myself for the ref, or French football authorities, or the European football authorities: leave me right where I am.
- French president Nicolas Sarkozy
| Argentina's Diego Maradona handles the ball to score past England 'keeper Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico. PIC/GETTY IMAGES |
I don't understand why we have been judged guilty. On the pitch, I didn't see the handball. Since then I have seen the video and it's a mistake by the referee.
- France coach raymond Domenech
You could see the referee hesitate and look at Henry. He could have asked him what he thought. If the referee had asked Henry, he would have said: 'Yes, it was handball'.
- Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni
He (Henry) told us we deserved to win. How is that supposed to make me feel? It makes me feel worse. He's admitted he cheated. He said he handled it, he didn't mean it.
- Ireland defender Richard Dunne
If FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.u00a0 Henry's a wonderful footballer, but does he want to remembered like Maradona was in 1986?
- Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney
Our minister of sport will write to FIFA and look for a re-match.
- Irish PM Brian Cowen
Neither the Frenchu00a0 nor Irish govts must interfere in federation's functioning.
- French PM Francois Fillon
