Harare — IN the United Kingdom, an old saying goes: "Football is a gentleman's game played by thugs and rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen."

Going by what transpired during last week's crucial second leg World Cup playoff between France and Ireland in Paris, this observation cannot be considered way off the mark or bizarre.

France captain Thierry Henry handled the ball, not once, but twice as he guided it to William Gallas' head for the defender to nod in, ending the Irish's dream of a place at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

To illustrate the extent of the outrage, retired football legend Eric Cantona said he "would have hit" Henry if he had been wronged in similar fashion by his fellow French star.

The former France and Manchester United star said: "What shocks me the most quite frankly, is not the handball. What shocks me the most is that this player, at the end of the game, in front of the TV cameras, went to sit down next to an Ireland player to comfort him -- when he had just (expletive deleted) him."

This is not to suggest that Henry is an out-and-out thug; he has been an excellent ambassador of football and, with his proven mental strength, he will rise from this nightmare.

Maradona atoned for his infamous "Hand of God" at Mexico '86 by slicing through almost the entire England defence later in the match to score his second "wonder goal", one of the greatest of all time.

The blame lies squarely on world football governing body Fifa for failing to move with the times. Players do and will always cheat, but what makes a difference are hard and fast rules that keep this in check. We all have a Thierry Henry in us.

A guilt-ridden Henry suggested that there be a replay and he found many takers because of the gross injustice of his "Hand of the Devil".

Henry said: "The fairest solution would be to replay the game, but it is not in my control."

This where world football governing body Fifa should have come in.

Fifa have already said they will not order a replay and the French Football Federation have also weighed in by saying they do not want to play the game again.

Fifa keep on insisting that the referee's decision is final even when it's obvious to the whole stadium that he is wrong.

The referee, human as he is, cannot have 360 degrees vision like a chameleon; he cannot be at all places at the same time.

As for his assistants, they are human like him and their line of vision or sight can be obstructed.

This is where technology comes in.

Cricket, rugby and tennis now use video technology to good effect and for the integrity of the game.

Replays are instant and indisputable to the mutual satisfaction of players, sponsors and even the most biased of spectators.

Isn't it better for football to make the right decisions rather than spend years debating it afterwards?

What good does that do? Fifa should not behave like a doctor who refuses to use the latest proven surgical techniques at the cost of his patients' lives.

It is Fifa's role to set rules and regulations, which enhance the game, not to hold it back.

Football has been in existence for over 100 years and much has changed over that period except the way it is refereed.

Fifa have since called for an extraordinary general meeting next month in view of what transpired at the World Cup playoffs.

The other playoff between Egypt and Algeria showed the other face of football which has little to do with rules or regulations, but everything to do with national psyche, overheated patriotism and simmering tensions in society or between states. Football then serves as an outlet for these emotions.

Egypt and Algeria have an intense soccer rivalry that goes back decades. The last time they met in a major tournament in 1989, the match was followed by riots.

War virtually broke out between the two Arab nations in the build-up to their do-or-die face-off to qualify for 2010.

Four members of the Algerian football squad were injured when their team bus came under attack from stone throwers as they arrived in Cairo for the final group match.

The Pharaohs won; leaving both sides delicately poised on equal points and with the same goal aggregate, thus necessitating a playoff in a neutral venue -- Sudan -- which Algeria won to qualify for the finals.

But the hostilities have not abated; if anything, they have intensified to such an extent that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has offered to mediate between the two countries to mend the strained relationship.

In 1993, Zimbabwe's Warriors got a similarly hostile reception in Cairo as they were pelted with stones and all sorts of missiles when facing Egypt in a qualifier for the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States.

Zimbabwe lost 2-1, but Fifa correctly ordered a replay at a neutral venue -- Lyon in France -- and the Warriors, with Bruce Grobbelaar and the defence in inspired form, had the satisfaction of knocking the Pharaohs out of the tournament as poetic justice was served after the blatantly unfair treatment in Cairo.

In 1969, that is 40 years ago, a four-day "Football War" broke out between Honduras and El Salvador.

The war was fought at a time when tensions between the two countries were building due to competition in the infamous qualifying games for the 1970 World Cup.

The first game took place in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, with the hosts winning the game.

The second game was played in the Salvadoran capital, San Salvador, with the home team winning.

The tie was in a deadlock with each country gaining a revised sense of pride and legitimacy.

The Honduran Press exploited existing tensions, reporting beatings, the burning of cars, and riots by Honduran citizens in El Salvador.

In the meantime, Salvadoran Press exploited alleged attacks on Salvadoran immigrants by Honduran citizens and security forces.

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that," said legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, one of the most successful and respected football managers who lifted the English club from mediocrity in 1959 to become the dominant force it was in the 1970s.

If you can't feel emotional about football, you've no business being in it.

l conway.tutani@zimpapers.co.zw