After a bunch of trips to Europe I have grown to love soccer.  Being that I am Irish, I am a huge fan of those national team. (Don’t worry team USA is still my favorite)

Anyway below is a video of how the World Cup Qualifying playoff game between Powerhouse France and the underdog Irish was decided. A blatant handball by French star Thierry Henry set up the goal that put France into the 2010 World Cup and sent the Irish home.  What has not really made a big impact here in the states has set Europe on fire with controversy.  This was one of the worst officiating calls in sports history.  How no offical saw Henry hand the ball onto his foot is almost impossible to believe. 

To put this into perspective it would be like if the NFL playoffs only took place every 4 years.  Let me set the stage..

In the game to decide the last team to get into the playoffs, in overtime, the ball on the 30 yard line, and one of their recievers was hiding in the back of the endzone (offside)  instead of on the line of scrimmage.  The offense took the snap, tossed the ball to the wide open offside WR and the TD was given and the team won. 

The handball is that big of an infraction that so obvious.  It is a travesty that a game of such importance was decided in this way.  We thought the umpires were awful in the MLB post-season. We are all witness to a new level of suck.