Gentleman's Aggrievement

"My game is fair play" - FIFA

'Fair', 'Justice', 'Cheat' - If I were to create a word cloud representing the comments on blogs, forums and sports news pages over the past few weeks, I reckon those three words would be emblazoned across it, font size 72, bold type, surrounded in the ether of linguistic clutter by the slightly smaller words - 'Henry', 'French' and 'Git'.

Thierry Henry's handball (x2) in the World Cup playoff against the Republic of Ireland leads me to question the whole concept of 'fair play', that notion so dear to the hearts of Messers Platini and Blatter.

Is there truly such a thing as 'fair play' in sport, has there ever been, or is it just a Utopian concept as unobtainable as a mirage? After all, there's a certain element of our collective psyche that champions cheats.

Of course in today's world of multiple cameras, media furores and increased fiscal reward, cheating is more debated than ever. That doesn't mean however, that it wasn't also prevalent years ago.

Wasn't William Webb Ellis, merely a cheat trying to gain an advantage by illegally picking up the ball and running with it!? His name graces the Rugby Union World Cup for goodness sake! What kind of an example are we trying to set here people?!!

Maradona, that most notorious of cheats, may well personify an eroding of principles but lambast him not so much for his 'Hand of God' misdemeanour, but for following it up with such a ridiculously sublime moment of inspiration. You wonder how much damage must have been inflicted on the then young and impressionable minds of present day professionals, to witness greatness and devilish deception in such close proximity?

If we were ever to maintain the concept of 'fair play', those playing/spectating would have to accept that occasionally laws will be broken unbeknown to us competitors and fans alike. The more the game is dissected, recorded from every angle, slow-mo'ed and re-run, the less the game becomes about the spirit of competition, instead encouraging us to consider where rules can be bent.

If we aren't willing to accept that referees make mistakes, much like we aren't willing to accept that players play with honour, then regrettably we must turn to technology.

Thankfully, it can be done successfully as proven in tennis and the NFL. In the latter case, head coaches are allowed 3 challenges. Should, after video review, the decision of the officials be upheld, that team loses a 'time out' (a considerable punishment in American sports). This forces coaches to consider the worth in challenging and tends to limit appeals to 'game turning' decisions. If anything it adds to the drama, a certain 'will they, won't they?' suspense arising.

Of course by enforcing the correct decisions in this way, it truly will mean the end of the road for 'fair play'. They'll be no need for honesty, sportsmanship, ethics, the technology will render them redundant qualities. Some of the magic of sport will be lost forever. As much as the words stick in my throat, perhaps, just perhaps, FIFA have a point?

If we forgo our quest for this higher plain of 'fair play', however unobtainable it may be, those who are so quick to cry 'foul', shall never again have the right to complain about a lack of humanity and character in sport. They will only have themselves to blame.