Given: Henry no cheat

Shay Given says he does not hold a grudge towards Thierry Henry for the handball that ended Ireland’s 2010 World Cup qualification dream.

During the World Cup play-off between Ireland and France at Dublin’s Croke Park in November 2009, Henry controlled the ball with his hand before setting-up William Gallas to score the decisive goal in France’s 2-1 win, denying the Irish any involvement in the tournament.

The Arsenal striker later confessed it had been a deliberate action, although FIFA refused to sanction him.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Given, who was between the posts for Ireland that day, refused to label Henry a cheat ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round meeting between their club sides.

“I think some really harsh stuff has been written about him but I don’t follow that line of thought (that he is a cheat),” Given said.

“He handballed it and players do that sometimes. His was quite a blatant one and he probably thought himself that the referees would pick it up. But I don’t blame him.”

“In a sense it wasn’t even Thierry Henry’s fault, it was the officials who never saw it.”

“I know he handballed it but it was so blatant we felt the officials should have picked it up, yet they didn’t.”

“Of course it was disappointing, especially all through the summer when the World Cup was on.”

“It was disappointing to think we could, should have been there probably.”

“But it’s water under the bridge now. It was hard at the time for the players and the Ireland fans. But you move on in football and you move on in life.”

“I certainly do not hold grudges. I just want to keep Thierry Henry quiet on Sunday for Aston Villa’s sake – not for what he did two years ago.”