France-Ireland Match Proves Soccer is Not a Sport

I can think of many reasons as to why I do not consider soccer a real sport. There's no clock on the scoreboard, players routinely fake injuries, teams never score, and fans riot regularly at their team's games.

The Ireland-France debacle combined with the resulting fallout is just more evidence for my case.

How in the world can FIFA, soccer's governing body, consider suspending French player Thierry Henry for his handball in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland?

A recap for those who are not familiar with this story: Ireland and France were in the middle of a 1-1 tie.  (Shocker in soccer, I know).  There were approximately 17 minutes left in the match before a shootout would have resulted.  (Does basketball end ties with a free throw contest?). A ball was headed out of bounds when Henry used his hand to prevent the ball from going out. He then passed to teammate William Gallas who scored the deciding goal.

Since then, Henry has admitted his hand made contact with the ball. He did not admit however, to "cheating" as Sports Illustrated claimed. A protest was lodged but FIFA, correctly, ruled that there would not be a replay of the game.

Now there is talk however, FIFA is considering suspending Henry for France's first match of the World Cup against South Africa.

This is absurd.

Imagine an AFC championship game where an obvious holding call is missed on a Tom Brady touchdown pass. Would the NFL suspend the lineman for the Super Bowl?

No, the referee in question would face discipline.

Or lets say Johnny Damon of the Yankees were to make a diving attempt for the ball, trap it, and come up as if he had caught it. Would major league baseball suspend Damon for a World Series game when it is the umpire's fault?

Of course not.

Henry was competing. Its not his fault the line judge, or whatever soccer uses, wasn't there to wave a flag and point in the opposite direction.

The reaction from both countries is hilarious. The Irish Prime Minister brought the issue up with the French President during a European summit. Imagine this scenario in the United States:

"Uh. President Obama?"

"Yes Mr. Prime Minister."

"Why did Kobe Bryant not admit to that traveling violation in the Olympics?"

"I don't know. I was thinking more about health care and the war in Afghanistan. Can I get back to you when, I don't know, I'm out of office?"

And then there is the French reaction. Unbelievably, many are petitioning for France to call for a replay of the game. I know the French have a penchant for quick surrender, but here they actually want to give up after winning.

No. Thierry Henry should not be suspended. And no, I will not be watching the World Cup.

There will be sports on television.

My random thoughts on the sports world and other topics can be followed on Twitter at @plh55.