As Sunderland prepare to face Arsenal, the debate rages on. Should France v Republic of Ireland be replayed? If so, what about Reading 1 Sunderland 0 (goal given, not over line), Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1 (legitimate, last second SAFC winner inexplicably denied by Steve Bentley), Sunderland 1 Liverpool 0 (beachball clinches the points).
One view of Thierry Henry’s public contrition is that it reaffirms his greatness; another is that it was a little belated and therefore that public reaction forced his hand (sorry).
No serious football controversy would be complete without Pete Sixsmith weighing in. And he says the Irish just have to get on with life …

Like the poor Swedish referee, I didn’t see the Henry Handball incident on Wednesday. I was driving home from Billingham, having got my midweek football fix by watching an entertaining game between Synthonia and West Allotment Celtic (2-1 to the visitors if you really want to know), but I did have the commentary on Radio 5 Live.

In between the whoops and soars and the intervention of Radio Moscow, I heard John Murray say absolutely clearly that Henry had handled it and the goal should not have stood. Mark Lawrenson came on at the end of the 90 minutes and said the same, only more forcefully. Both spoke about the need for technology to help the officials with their decisions.
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On a night when Irish eyes were left streaming with tears, Salut! Sunderland cheats a little with its headline …

That headline is a product of premature exasperation.

Thierry Henry has yet to declare his hand, so to speak.

But if he wishes to sign up to the Salut! Sunderland AFC (Against Football Cheats) campaign**, we will promise never, ever to reproduce any of the trillion pictures and video clips that are surely being posted even now to websites the world over showing his moment of disgrace in tonight’s France v Republic of Ireland’s match in Paris.

And to think that Mr Henry was for so long our favourite player of any nationality in the Premier League.

When Giovanni Trapattoni idiotically excluded Andy Reid from his squad, reportedly the legacy of some late-night banjo warfare in Germany, Salut! Sunderland voted for a French win.

Tonight, as France celebrates a draw that manhandled the Irish out of the World Cup, the message changes from Allez les Bleus to A Bas les Bleus.

** Our campaign has as its dream targets Eduardo for the role of professional adviser, David Ngog as education officer, Herita Ilunga in charge of choreography and Gary McAllister as life president. Thierry Henry can look after the proposed Maradona Academy.
Our campaign has as its dream targets Eduardo as professional adviser, David Ngog as education officer, Herita Ilunga in charge of choreography and Gary McAllister as life president. Thierry Henry can look after the proposed Maradona Academy.