Henry may miss World Cup opener

THIERRY HENRY is facing the prospect of being banned from the start of next summer’s World Cup finals after FIFA announced their disciplinary committee had opened proceedings against the French striker for his infamous hand ball.

The incident in the World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland was the main subject of an emergency meeting of the FIFA executive committee in Cape Town yesterday.

However, the body rejected a proposal – brought in response to the hand ball — to fast-track the experimental system of having five officials on the pitch, with two extra assistant referees behind each goal-line, for the World Cup.