Irish people's hearts are broken. They were so close to the World Cup finals but “Henry's handball” at the last minute had destroyed their hopes.

Thierry Henry is the captain of French. In the recent decisive match, he used his hand to make France score the goal that gave them an aggregate victory.

At that time, the referee and his assistants didn't spot the infraction. But Henry's hand could not escape from the camera lens. Through slow-motion amplifications, he was seen passing the ball with his hand.

Clearly, it was an infraction. Even the France team and Henry admitted that it was a handball. However, the referee's decision was made and the game was ended.

Ireland requested for a rematch but it was turned down by FIFA. The result of the match cannot be changed.

“Henry's handball” is currently the world's most popular topic of discussion and debate.

It does not related only to Ireland or it is not merely a soccer issue. Instead, it is an universal debate on the contradiction between the rules of games and fairness.

Henry had violated the fairness principle of soccer but according to the law of the game, the referee's decision is final. The moment when the whistle sounded, the result is unchangeable, even if it is a wrong decision.

Therefore, in order to win the game, all means may be used.

Just as Henry said: “It really was a handball but I'm not the referee.”

Based on the same logic, a thief who had stolen something but did not caught by the authority may just say: “I did steal it but I'm not a policeman.”

Henry used to be a widely respected soccer player but after his handball and crafty attitude, he has become a player that will do anything for the sake of victory.

(He shamelessly agreed to have a rematch and apologise to the Irish people only after he knew that there will be no rematch. It fact, it was only an image repairing public relations tactic).

France is qualified for the 2010 World Cup while the Republic of Irish is eliminated. The team which had done something was rewarded while the team which had done nothing wrong was punished.

The game will be carried on but the soccer spirit of fairness had been destroyed. In the future, instead of using their feet, soccer players may just use all kinds of tricks and cheats - as long as the referee does not take any punitive action.

In addition to player's qualities and team strategies, how to win with unfair tactics would be another way to success.

The logic is similar to MCA's current party crisis. In order to win, leaders with good images in the past could just use all dirty means, including using various loopholes of the party constitution, to obtain personal or factional interests.

However, these practices are against the ethics of justice and politics. They will eventually pay the prices and together, MCA will loose its original values and status. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)