EMMANUEL PETIT HAS accused France as a nation of being “hypocritical and cowardly” over a perceived lack of love for Thierry Henry, revealing that he sometimes thinks it would have been better if the country had been “overrun by the Germans,” while pointing to his infamous handball against Ireland as a key reason for this behaviour.
Henry looks set to have played his last game as a professional following New York Red Bulls’ MLS Cup elimination at the weekend, though the forward has yet to confirm if he will now call time on his illustrious career.
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The 37-year-old’s potential retirement has made headlines in England, where Henry spent eight years plying his trade with Arsenal, who unveiled a statue of the striker outside the Emirates Stadium in 2011 in recognition of his status as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Henry, though, does not enjoy as strong a bond with his native France — despite playing a key role in the country’s World Cup triumph in 1998.
Now, in an astonishing outburst that makes reference to Germany’s occupation of France during World War II as well as Henry’s infamous handball in a World Cup play-off against Republic of Ireland in 2009, former France teammate Petit has accused his compatriots of exhibiting hypocrisy and cowardice in their attitude towards his former team-mate.
“In England, they’ve built a statue of Thierry,” the ex-Arsenal midfielder told Sports.fr. “That means a lot. He’s adored there. It bothers me.
“What can we reproach Henry for? His handball against Ireland? He helped France qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. He has done nothing.
“France is hypocritical and cowardly. Sometimes I think that if we’d been overrun by the Germans, we’d be better run.
“He’s not hated but he’s certainly not loved. He got screwed by the French press after his handball and has since not spoken to the French media.
“In France, he has no collusion with the press, so what? Perhaps because he was not smiling when he scored for les Bleus! Well, that’s what I hate in this country.
“I have great difficulty with the French, I have never seen such arrogant, smug, lying and hypocritical people.”
Petit, who was capped 63 times by Les Bleus, spent three years at Arsenal himself, between 1997 and 2000.
What he did was a disgrace but it was a one off and he was genuinely sorry after it happened. There are bigger cheats around like Suarez and they are treated as heroes. He was one of the greatest players ever so he deserves some respect. Don’t blame him for a sport that has turned rotten. He played the game like it should be played.
I’m forever hearing Irish people telling the English to get over the Maradona handball. I think we should do the same. If your looking to blame someone then blame FIFA. It’s a joke that they don’t have video playback for important decisions when every other sport does.
He’s a despicable cheat.. who tarnished a fine playing career. Petit is talking out of his orifice. The way Henry acted around Dunne post match added insult to injury.
Then again with coach like Domenech, where’s the surprise?
Isn’t soccer just full of cheating, almost every week a premiership game is won by a created penalty, we spend half the games watching overpaid men lie on the floor in pain after little tackles trying to get their opponent a yellow card, when my son and his friend play rugby they act like men the next day when playing soccer they mimic the pros and get injured on a second, the game is boring and corrupt
They can erect whatever they like to him but they should paint it yellow to indicate that he was a cowardly cheat who didn’t man up and admit to the referee that he’d cheated. That one act alone destroys what would otherwise have been a fine career…
I always found it baffling that Henry got so much grief over the incident, even from the Irish. He made a split second instinctive reaction to help his team win and admitted afterwards he cheated. FIFA and the officials were to blame. Although John Delaney’s carry on afterwards was pitiful!
I don’t recall him admitting it. I recall him claiming it was ball to hand (twice somehow) bit that’s all. No apology, no admission that he purposely handled it.
If you look at the incident you see his hand just instinctively shoots up, anyone who has played sport will know that you can do things instinctively like handballing or tripping someone that runs past you without even thinking about it. It’s up to the referees to call it. Jeez you’d swear he killed someone the reaction we gave. These things happen in football, we had 180 mins to go through and we didn’t and our defending didn’t help.
He admitted to Richard Dunne straight after the match, and to the press days after. And it’s not his obligation to apologise to anyone, that’s what the officials are there for, to call these fouls in the first place. What if the foul was given, and Ireland won on penalties and went to South Africa? He still committed the foul and ‘cheated’, should he have apologised then?
It’s the ref and the system that ultimately should be held accountable for that farce. I love football, but God knows it’s the most poorly officiated and corruption-ridden big sport in the world.
Serves him right that was a disgrace. They then went to the World Cup with there shit fans and got knocked out early. At least the irish would of had a laugh at it and sang song and enjoyed them selves with other fans. The whole World Cup lost out of that handball.
One of the best games ireland ever played, free flowing football, short passing, every player giving his heart all nullified by the sneaky cheating actions of a guy who just didn’t care. Didn’t even have the decency to apologise… Have never bought a Gillette product since.
France had one of the worst displays at a world cup I have ever seen, from the fans to the team to their football association. But what are you suggesting? That if the Irish team played like that, we should all just pretend it’s great, ah sher we got here in the first place and we’re only here for a piss up?
Because it worked so well in the Euros…
All I’m going to say is the following …
if Robbie keane or any other irish player had did the same thing then we would all have said “that’s sport , get over it , the ref was to blame – yada yada ” .
Roy Keane opined to the effect – If I was the manager I would be asking why my full-back let the ball bounce in the box….
Nicolas Anelka on the same night in the same game was clearly chopped down for a blatant penalty – it wasn’t given !
On the night the irish team seemed to forget that Trappatonni was ever even heard of and played soccer like we love them to play.
Sport teaches many things – it should teach to be gracious in both victory and defeat – there’s always another game !
And finally – you’d miss Trappatoni’s interpreter- her insights on the game were only beautiful —–
All the people in here blasting him for cheating obviously don’t support Liverpool Saurez of ten got a penality for diving. So did Ashley young for united. If it was Robbie Keane that done that he would be considered a hero. So don’t go all self righteous. Henry was possibly one of the best strikers to play the game and should be remembered for all the cracking goals he scored.
Henry sorry?? I think not. He was on the BBC for the World Cup and Lineker asked him if he was ever accused of cheating. All the panel laughed including Henry. Pri@k
Christ when will some fans let it go. I remember being gutted but strangely elated that night. We played brilliantly after yrs of drudgery from Stan and Trap and lost out to one of the worst referring decisions in football. Every footballer who inhales oxygen would have done what Henry did that night. The ppl with Irish flags as profiles & who say Henry is a cheating bast###. Gas men – same ppl who probably would think the great Barca side played boring football and would carry John Delaney shoulder high from a pub after getting bought a bottle of bulmers by the great man.
To be honest French football would have been better off if they hadn’t qualified after the shenanigans that went on when they were in South Africa. Hindsight is a great thing. It’s probably time we stop using him as a scapegoat maybe if he apologised I think there are others our anger should be vented at!
Far from me to stick up for Henry, especially as he’s an ex Arsenal man, but he was a very gifted player and I think he got huge slack for a decision that should have been spotted by officials. He may come back as a coach to N7, considering how injury prone some of their players are it may do Arsenal good!!
Henry was and given his age, still is a great player…
In his position, I’d have done exactly the same.
Sport is not just about taking part, it’s about winning!
Just as the Scottish connection went wrong for Ferguson with Moyes so too will the French connection go wrong with Wenger and Henry. A top club like Arsenal should be touting for a proven top manager, not experimenting with an old club darling who has no management experience.
Robbie Keane cheated in the same tournament against Georgia. We shouldn’t have even been in that playoff. Of course I didn’t think about that at the time.
Pettit is Right about the press in general,but Henry cheated a small nation out of their place at the world cup,by cheating openly twice in a second,he took the piss,and then sat with Richard Dunne apologising,it is no surprise that his reputation has suffered ,If he wanted a blemish free legacy he should have admitted to the ref that he did handle the ball,but he didnt ,he wanted the World cup place!!!!so he must take his medicine!
Henry was amazing with Arsenal. It’s interesting that the french people despised that cheating . That game in paris is over now it was a fantastic performance but we need to move on.
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Glad he’s hated in France cheating fcuk
What he did was a disgrace but it was a one off and he was genuinely sorry after it happened. There are bigger cheats around like Suarez and they are treated as heroes. He was one of the greatest players ever so he deserves some respect. Don’t blame him for a sport that has turned rotten. He played the game like it should be played.
Robbie Keane is a bigger cheat. Went down easy for countless penalties. Roy Keane put plenty of people in hospital.
No he doesn’t. The b**tard.
Roy put “plenty” of people in hospital eh? Care to name a few?
I’m forever hearing Irish people telling the English to get over the Maradona handball. I think we should do the same. If your looking to blame someone then blame FIFA. It’s a joke that they don’t have video playback for important decisions when every other sport does.
John Michael ” he played the game as it should be played” Its football not handball.
Class player – build a bridge..
What a clown you are.
He got screwed? eh
He’s a despicable cheat.. who tarnished a fine playing career. Petit is talking out of his orifice. The way Henry acted around Dunne post match added insult to injury.
Then again with coach like Domenech, where’s the surprise?
Isn’t soccer just full of cheating, almost every week a premiership game is won by a created penalty, we spend half the games watching overpaid men lie on the floor in pain after little tackles trying to get their opponent a yellow card, when my son and his friend play rugby they act like men the next day when playing soccer they mimic the pros and get injured on a second, the game is boring and corrupt
They can erect whatever they like to him but they should paint it yellow to indicate that he was a cowardly cheat who didn’t man up and admit to the referee that he’d cheated. That one act alone destroys what would otherwise have been a fine career…
I always found it baffling that Henry got so much grief over the incident, even from the Irish. He made a split second instinctive reaction to help his team win and admitted afterwards he cheated. FIFA and the officials were to blame. Although John Delaney’s carry on afterwards was pitiful!
I don’t recall him admitting it. I recall him claiming it was ball to hand (twice somehow) bit that’s all. No apology, no admission that he purposely handled it.
If you look at the incident you see his hand just instinctively shoots up, anyone who has played sport will know that you can do things instinctively like handballing or tripping someone that runs past you without even thinking about it. It’s up to the referees to call it. Jeez you’d swear he killed someone the reaction we gave. These things happen in football, we had 180 mins to go through and we didn’t and our defending didn’t help.
He admitted to Richard Dunne straight after the match, and to the press days after. And it’s not his obligation to apologise to anyone, that’s what the officials are there for, to call these fouls in the first place. What if the foul was given, and Ireland won on penalties and went to South Africa? He still committed the foul and ‘cheated’, should he have apologised then?
I agree and I think he was asked at the time and he said outright there and then that he didn’t .
It’s the ref and the system that ultimately should be held accountable for that farce. I love football, but God knows it’s the most poorly officiated and corruption-ridden big sport in the world.
Serves him right that was a disgrace. They then went to the World Cup with there shit fans and got knocked out early. At least the irish would of had a laugh at it and sang song and enjoyed them selves with other fans. The whole World Cup lost out of that handball.
One of the best games ireland ever played, free flowing football, short passing, every player giving his heart all nullified by the sneaky cheating actions of a guy who just didn’t care. Didn’t even have the decency to apologise… Have never bought a Gillette product since.
I immediately binned my gilette and bought a Wilkinson Sword. Sad to say after a few weeks of razor burn I went meekly back.
France had one of the worst displays at a world cup I have ever seen, from the fans to the team to their football association. But what are you suggesting? That if the Irish team played like that, we should all just pretend it’s great, ah sher we got here in the first place and we’re only here for a piss up?
Because it worked so well in the Euros…
The picture shows the full story. Why did you ball watch and let it bounce in the box mc shane??????
Well mr les
That has nothing got to do with Henrys cheating
Cause he’s shit
“I have never seen such arrogant smug lying and hypocritical people” so very very accurate. Even someone who’s from France knows it.
We would have beaten Spain 5-0 in the final. Henry you Silly Goose!!!
Emmanuel Petit would want to get back on his meds …
He sounds like a right barrel of laughs without them. ….
I had almost managed to erase this incident from my memory. Now the nightmares are going to start again. Thanks, journal.
All I’m going to say is the following …
if Robbie keane or any other irish player had did the same thing then we would all have said “that’s sport , get over it , the ref was to blame – yada yada ” .
Roy Keane opined to the effect – If I was the manager I would be asking why my full-back let the ball bounce in the box….
Nicolas Anelka on the same night in the same game was clearly chopped down for a blatant penalty – it wasn’t given !
On the night the irish team seemed to forget that Trappatonni was ever even heard of and played soccer like we love them to play.
Sport teaches many things – it should teach to be gracious in both victory and defeat – there’s always another game !
And finally – you’d miss Trappatoni’s interpreter- her insights on the game were only beautiful —–
All the people in here blasting him for cheating obviously don’t support Liverpool Saurez of ten got a penality for diving. So did Ashley young for united. If it was Robbie Keane that done that he would be considered a hero. So don’t go all self righteous. Henry was possibly one of the best strikers to play the game and should be remembered for all the cracking goals he scored.
you cant let the ballllll bounce in de boooxxxx.
Henry sorry?? I think not. He was on the BBC for the World Cup and Lineker asked him if he was ever accused of cheating. All the panel laughed including Henry. Pri@k
He did nothing wrong it was the referees fault
Christ when will some fans let it go. I remember being gutted but strangely elated that night. We played brilliantly after yrs of drudgery from Stan and Trap and lost out to one of the worst referring decisions in football. Every footballer who inhales oxygen would have done what Henry did that night. The ppl with Irish flags as profiles & who say Henry is a cheating bast###. Gas men – same ppl who probably would think the great Barca side played boring football and would carry John Delaney shoulder high from a pub after getting bought a bottle of bulmers by the great man.
To be honest French football would have been better off if they hadn’t qualified after the shenanigans that went on when they were in South Africa. Hindsight is a great thing. It’s probably time we stop using him as a scapegoat maybe if he apologised I think there are others our anger should be vented at!
Far from me to stick up for Henry, especially as he’s an ex Arsenal man, but he was a very gifted player and I think he got huge slack for a decision that should have been spotted by officials. He may come back as a coach to N7, considering how injury prone some of their players are it may do Arsenal good!!
Linker asked him because it was rehearsed he is a smug b / stard
Henry was and given his age, still is a great player…
In his position, I’d have done exactly the same.
Sport is not just about taking part, it’s about winning!
Micky Rourke recently beat a 27 year old in boxing sure it’s all about the winning…
But France was overrun by the Germans??? I think ‘petite’ need to hit the books.
Just as the Scottish connection went wrong for Ferguson with Moyes so too will the French connection go wrong with Wenger and Henry. A top club like Arsenal should be touting for a proven top manager, not experimenting with an old club darling who has no management experience.
Did I really say “top club”?
Henry would be walking into Arsenal a club legend.
Moyes had a bad record against Utd, but I wouldn’t call him that……..
Tricky things to play, these small violins
Robbie Keane cheated in the same tournament against Georgia. We shouldn’t have even been in that playoff. Of course I didn’t think about that at the time.
France did get overrun by the Germans…
If it makes Petit feel any better, we don’t love him here either
Ball to hand. Nothing in it. Move on.
Pettit is Right about the press in general,but Henry cheated a small nation out of their place at the world cup,by cheating openly twice in a second,he took the piss,and then sat with Richard Dunne apologising,it is no surprise that his reputation has suffered ,If he wanted a blemish free legacy he should have admitted to the ref that he did handle the ball,but he didnt ,he wanted the World cup place!!!!so he must take his medicine!
That’s because he’s a cheat.
Henry was amazing with Arsenal. It’s interesting that the french people despised that cheating . That game in paris is over now it was a fantastic performance but we need to move on.