St Ledger calls for introduction of video referees

SEAN ST LEDGER has joined the growing chorus calling for the introduction of video referees along the lines of those used in rugby union.

Thierry Henry’s role in France’s controversial goal at the Stade de France has again shone a light on what has been an perennial discussion in football circles in recent years, although FIFA remain resolutely opposed to anything which they believe could lessen the referee’s authority.

“The technology is there, why not use it?” said the defender. “It would have helped us. It was a boyhood dream to go and play in the World Cup and it’s been snatched away from me. Over two games we were the better team. They beat us with deflected goal and a goal that should never have been. It gets worse looking at the replays.

“Henry said it just hit his hand but I can’t believe that for one minute. In the replay, you see his eyes looking at the ball and you see his hand move.’’

St Ledger was part of the Irish posse that remonstrated with the match officials immediately after William Gallas found the net and he clearly still finds it difficult to believe that the goal was allowed to stand after such an obvious illegal act. Added to FIFA’s belated decision to seed the European play-offs, it has made for a sour note on which to end his first campaign as an international player, one in which he has matured into a defender of real note at this level.

“I had a great view. I can’t believe the ref or linesman has not seen it.’’

On the seedings controversy, St Ledger added: “It’s a disgrace how they can change the rules for the play-offs halfway through the tournament just because some of the bigger nations are in the play-offs. There are no words to describe what happened.”

John O’Shea was another Irish player with an excellent view of the French goal. The Waterford man had been substituted thanks to a dead leg earlier in the evening and was able to avail of TV monitors on the sideline soon after the incident.

“I’m disappointed, but I’m trying not to use too strong words, you’ll only get yourself in trouble,” said the Manchester United defender. “It was such a blatant handball.”

O’Shea added: “There’s huge bitterness. What can you say now, it’s very hard. They’re hardly going to replay the game are they? It was probably the best result and performance that I’ve been involved with. We rode our luck a little bit, the way we played overall. The best team has not gone through.”

The mood may be black right now but the future looks bright ahead of February’s draw for the European Championship qualifiers with players like St Ledger and Keith Andrews truly coming of age with their performances against the French here in Paris.

“We got some unfair criticism at home because I think we over-achieved getting in the play-off spot,” said St Ledger. “When you work as hard as we did on Saturday and here, you feel like you deserve the rewards, and then it’s taken away.”