The missed call of Thierry Henry’s handball that made Martin Hansson cry will likely prevent the Swedish referee taking charge of a match at this world cup.
Yet Hansson was smiling on Monday and philosophical about his role as a specialist fourth official in South Africa, consigned to the sideline as the only European referee placed on standby while nine colleagues get their moments in the middle. “I think now it’s too late,” Hansson said.
Asked if he and his two regular assistants still hoped to be awarded their own match, he said, “We know that when we went here, nine out of 10 referees from Europe will be a referee. We were the 10th one. We have to accept it.”
Is he paying the price for the worldwide furor that followed Henry’s notorious foul play which helped qualify France at Ireland’s expense? “I don’t know. It’s up to others to answer that question,” he said.
Aged 39, Hansson will be eligible for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil before reaching Fifa’s mandatory retirement age of 45. Fifa put him in Paris last November for the return match of a highly charged playoff with France defending a 1-0 lead against Ireland in which a chapter of football folklore was written.
Henry used his left forearm and hand to control the ball before passing for William Gallas to score and send France to the finals. Hansson’s view of Henry was blocked and, despite furious Irish protests, he let the goal stand. It was a half-hour after he blew the final whistle that Hansson was told what he’d missed.
Hansson said he cried in his Stade de France changing room. “Of course, when I realized what a mistake it was,” he said. — AP