D Friday, November 20, 2009 METRO 19 Tile style: Workers in front of Johannesburgs Soccer City Stadium yesterday during a flag- raising ceremony to welcome the 32 countries qualified for the 2010 World Cup Picture: AFP/Getty The Big Picture Cheated of a victory Robbed: Robbie Keane and co Ireland were robbed as a result of extremely poor refereeing and an obscenely poor sportsman named Thierry Henry. While his blatant double handball which led to the France goal is absolute proof that there is indeed a need for the equivalent of rugbys TV referee, he will undoubtedly always be remembered for being an outright cheat. In a game worth so much to Ireland, to be cheated out of a deserved victory is a travesty. It should never have been allowed to happen owing to the many advances in technology which could be used to maintain the beautiful game, which has become far from beautiful owing to the many disgraceful decisions as well as the over-dramatic dives of players in the modern game. I firmly feel that referee Martin Hansson should not only be stripped of his whistle, but he should have to walk the length of OConnell Street while being beaten by the nations collective shillelagh! To the Boys in Green, you did your best, you did me proud but we were all robbed. Big Mc I agree with George Hamilton; Thierry Henry is a thief and a cheat (not to mention a bad influence on our youth). However, the problem is soccer and the general publics acceptance of its rules. If it were rugby, a video referee would be used and a subsequent citing or suspension of Mr Henry and the French diving team might be used and rightfully so (see the Bloodgate scandal in the match between Harlequins vs Leinster). Fifa (and Uefa) are ultimately at fault and nobodys putting pressure on them to change. They refuse to introduce video referees Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Top three: Scrap bravo! To get the ball rolling, my top three albums of the decade would be: Royksopp Melody AM, Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion, Radiohead In Rainbows. Kid A Maestro: In response to Scrap: heres my three top albums of the decade: Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica (2000), Sigur Rs Takk (2005), Arcade Fire Funeral (2004). Owen Research first: L, you have to work 40 years to get a full pension in the civil service, where Dave obviously works. Most civil servants dont get their full 40 years service, so Dave is right. Do some research please. P.S. French cheats! Bongo Lobby Fifa: I am in mourning over the appalling decision made by the referee and as a proud nation we should stand together and make our voices heard lobby Fifa for a rematch! E Smith Verified: From public sector worker of 21 years pension lump sum 23k and 31 per week. Unsubstantiated drivel? I think not. P, Dublin In Brief stating that itll take from the passion and purity of the game. A further problem is that the common view is that this is all part of football; or at least Graeme Souness and Johnny Giles seem to think so. Unacceptable, that we, the Irish public, are now without a World Cup to follow in earnest. James, Mountmellick I couldnt agree more with what Jen said about Kate Moss ridiculous quote yesterday. As one of the worlds most famous supermodels she is a role model for hundreds of thousands of girls all over the world and even worse, she is a mother herself. Its disgraceful to think she is happy to portray an image that says appearance is everything and that it is healthy to look like a grey, haggard, bag of bones. If and when I have kids, I certainly wouldnt want them looking up to someone like her. Thank God there are still some intelligent, beautiful and successful women like Beyonc for young girls to look up to. Fashion lover and foodie, Dublin 4 Sendusyour txt Thierry Henry spent 90 minutes in Croke Park and turned into a GAA player. Annoyed fan Unlucky Ireland played brilliant and deserved better. Now I know how England fans felt when Maradona punched that goal in. Pickles Im so frustrated over the football result. We played so well and we were the better team. I dont blame the cheating French, we would have taken the same goal. I blame the authorities. Bring in the video referee for football it has worked for rugby. Steve I agree with Amanda, paedophiles and rapists get off easy in this country, all the while people are getting put in jail for not paying taxes or speeding. Justice my a***. Wayne On a more positive note the Ireland fans were class in Paris on Wednesday night. My favourite chant alive alive-o, alive alive-o! Stephen Irelands two grannies, alive alive-o! Fiona txt MAIL to 53131* index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html