Hansson: I cried after ‘Hand of Gaul’ gaffe

MISSING the call to spot Thierry Henry’s handball made referee Martin Hansson cry and will likely prevent the Swedish referee taking charge of a match at this World Cup.

Hansson was philosophical about his role as a specialist fourth official in South Africa, consigned to the sideline as the only European referee on standby while nine colleagues get their moments in the middle.

“I think now it’s too late,” Hansson said when asked if he and his two regular assistants still hoped to be awarded their own match.

“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 deal with that and accept it.”

Hanson says he doesn’t know if he is paying the price for the furore that followed Henry’s ‘Hand of Gaul’ which helped qualify France at Ireland’s expense.

Aged 39, Hansson will be eligible for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil before reaching FIFA’s mandatory retirement age of 45.

Hansson revealed yesterday it was a half-hour after he blew the final whistle in Paris he was told what he had missed. Hansson said he cried in his Stade de France changing room. “Of course, when I realised what a mistake it was,” he said.

He said an Irish team official consoled him afterwards, and he maintains a love for Ireland.

“I love the people. I love the island. I love the beer,” he said.

However, the ensuing attention on the part-time firefighter’s life in Sweden was an ordeal.

“The media was in my small village at home,” Hansson said. “They took photos of my parents’ house, they were knocking on my neighbours’ doors in the middle of the night. Then, I think if it’s really worth (being a referee)?

Hansson will be on duty again today as the fourth official backing Hungary’s Victor Kassai when Mexico plays Uruguay at Rustenburg.