Rogge praises Henry handball admission

Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne said he felt “cheated” of a World Cup place after his team’s 2-1 aggregate loss to France in Paris.

French striker Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build up to William Gallas’s decisive extra-time goal earning a 1-1 draw on the night.

Dunne said: “Henry admitted afterwards he handled it, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. We were cheated.”

Henry added: “I will be honest it was a handball but I’m not the referee.”

Remarkably, Henry sat down on the pitch with Dunne after the final whistle and said afterwards he admitted the handball to the Irish defender.

“I told Dunne,” Henry said. “He said the same to me, ‘you’re not the ref’. That’s why the players did not come to me, that’s why they went to the referee.

“You can clearly see the opportunity. Sebastien Squillaci went to jump for the ball with two Irish players and I’m behind him. The next thing I know the ball hit my hand, my arm even. It was right in front of me, I played it.

“The ref allowed it and that’s a question you should ask him.”

The Barcelona striker clearly handled the ball to stop it going out of play and then prodded it across goal for Gallas to nod home in the 104th minute. That left Ireland little time to reply having taken an early lead through Robbie Keane’s strike after 33 minutes.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side carved out a number of chances but survived an appeal for a France penalty when Nicolas Anelka appeared to be tripped by Irish keeper Shay Given.

The Swedish referee Martin Hansson denied the hosts but he, nor the linesman, spotted the Henry handball in a crowded penalty area.

“Fifa will probably be happy,” added Dunne. “Yet again the big decisions have gone for the bigger team.

“There has to be a case for matches of this importance for a fourth official to look at replays and get the calls right.”

Captain Robbie Keane told BBC Radio 5 live: “Henry nearly caught it, so it’s a bit of a killer. When you see the reaction of the players, Shay especially, he’s two yards away from it and you don’t get a reaction like that if he’s not sure it’s a handball.

“He almost caught it and ran into the net with it.

“Henry is a top player and has been for a long time but it was a clear handball he dragged it in from going out. He nearly caught it. I wouldn’t expect it from anyone.”

Manager Trapattoni said it was sickening to go out of the World Cup in such a manner: “We are angry. It is a bitter evening for me.

“I would prefer to have gone out on penalties.

“The referee had time to ask the linesman and then after to ask Henry.

“It would not have been the first time a player would have asked and it would not have been out of turn.

“I am upset for fair play. We talk many times about fair play, I go to schools and talk to young children about the importance of fair play, and this happens.

“I spoke to the referee and I told him he may have made a great mistake.

“Everybody saw the game. You know what happened.

“We played a great game. We deserved to win.”

France coach Raymond Domenech said: “I am sorry for Ireland and in a way disappointed they have gone out.

“We would loved to have won by two or three goals, but it was not to be.

“It was hard, laborious and indeed miraculous. I was sure we would make it though. We are happy, like the whole of France football.

“I knew we were going to make a 1-1 draw and we are just happy to be going to South Africa.”

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Steven Gerrard cheered by fans as he’s cleared of affray in bar brawl court case

Steven Gerrard was cheered by supporters as he left court a free man yesterday, after being cleared of attacking a man in a bar brawl.

The England star admitted punching Marcus McGee three times but a jury took 75 minutes to find him not guilty of affray.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the Liverpool captain, who has scored more than 100 goals for the Reds, stood alone in the dock as the verdict was announced.

Gerrard, 29, showed no emotion as he learned he had been cleared.

The Judge, Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, told him: “You can walk away from this court with your reputation intact.”

A relieved-looking Gerrard emerged from Liverpool crown court to cheers, applause and shouts of, “Come on, Rocky.”

He told the fans: “Can I just say how pleased I am with today’s verdict. I would like to put this case behind me.

“I am really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football now.

“I would just like to say a big thank you to my legal team, my friends and family and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for supporting me. Thank you.”

Club manager Rafa Benitez echoed his relief yesterday.

Benitez, who is in Singapore for Liverpool’s pre-season match there on Sunday, said: “We are really pleased. Now he can just concentrate on playing football.”

And Gerrard wasted no time getting back on the pitch. He played for Liverpool XI against Tranmere Rovers last night, scoring in their 2-2 draw. He had not joined the rest of the first team squad in Singapore because of his trial.

But his team-mates heard the verdict during a training session at the Singapore National Stadium. Led by Jamie Carragher, the squad linked arms and danced as fans started chanting Gerrard’s name.

Gerrard always maintained he was acting in self-defence when he clashed with Mr McGee in the Lounge Inn bar in Southport, Merseyside, on December 29 last year. But Mr McGee spoke of his fury last night at the verdict.

He said: “I can’t believe this. What message does this give to any young lad who goes into a pub at the weekend?”

Gerrard and a group of friends had gone to the Lounge Inn following Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Newcastle United, during which he had scored twice. CCTV footage showed his party drinking beer, dancing and singing football songs.

But after Gerrard argued with McGee over the music a fight broke out. CCTV footage showed him landing three uppercuts at Mr McGee, before being dragged away.

The fight continued without him and later a second brawl broke out, not involving Gerrard.

Mr McGee, 34, lost a front crown and needed stitches to a head wound as a result of his injuries.

Five of Gerrard’s pals admitted affray earlier this week and a sixth admitted threatening behaviour.

But Gerrard always insisted he was trying to resolve the dispute and that he only lashed out at Mr McGee in self-defence.

He told the jury: “I am sorry about the whole incident.” The judge had reminded the jury to put aside their football loyalties while considering the evidence.

After the verdict, he told Gerrard: “With hindsight you may agree it was unwise of you to have approached Marcus McGee in an attempt to speak to him about your earlier trivial disagreement .

“However, that is far cry from saying you were criminally responsible for the violence which thereafter erupted.”

He said that CCTV proved it was his pal John Doran who had launched the initial assault.

Gerrard’s friends Ian Smith, 19, Doran, 29, Paul McGrattan, 31, and Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, all admitted affray.

Another friend John McGrattan, 34, admitted threatening behaviour. They will be sentenced next month.

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Eric Cantona joins Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross welcomed Eric Cantona to this week’s Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC One.

The footballing legend said he’s interested in managing Manchester United: “I had a great time here, the best time of my life was when I was in Manchester.”

He admitted his infamous “seagulls” quote meant nothing and that he doesn’t regret his controversial past: “[Being banned] was difficult, maybe I deserved it, gave me time to think. You have to come back even better… I don’t have any regrets, I just wanted to play the game.”

He also rejected adulation, saying: “The only thing I’m sure about is my doubts.”

Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman also joined Jonathan and says he wants Eric Cantona to be the next James Bond.

He told how he never made it up with [Kramer v Kramer co-star] Meryl Streep: “She was pi**ed off, I don’t think she’s forgiven me.”

He also discussed ageism in movies: “At my age they don’t write leads but women have it much worse.”

He says that he looks forward to making the next Fockers movie and that he rates fellow guest Hugh Laurie in House: “The best American accent that I’ve heard that isn’t by an American; it’s the money.”

Hugh Laurie said he wants Stephen Fry to join the cast of House: “It could happen one day.”

And revealed he could never perform live because of stage-fright: “I couldn’t do it again, I really thought I was losing my marbles.”

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Man Utd celebrate Premier League title win

Manchester United sealed a third successive Premier League title by getting the point they needed against Arsenal – but the Old Trafford celebrations only started after an afternoon gripped by tension.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side knew a draw would ensure they equalled Liverpool’s long-time record of 18 titles, but Arsenal ensured they did not earn their prize without a fight.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas both wasted opportunities to drag the title race into its final week and leave United with more work to do at Hull City on the last day of the season as nerves jangled in the closing stages.

But United’s defence, so often the bedrock of their success this season, delivered another clean sheet when Ferguson needed it most and Old Trafford erupted in ecstasy at the final whistle as an 11th Premier League success was confirmed.

Wayne Rooney missed United’s best chance with a first-half header, and there was an intriguing cameo when Old Trafford voiced its resounding disapproval when the popular Carlos Tevez was substituted in what could prove to be his final home appearance.

But nothing could overshadow United’s achievement – or the joy of players, fans and management – as the presentations were made after the final whistle with club captain Gary Neville lifting the Barclays Premier League trophy.

United saw off a stirring challenge from an improving Liverpool this season to once again set the standards their rivals must meet, despite a stumble when defeats against Rafael Benitez’s side and Fulham threatened to undermine their challenge.

And as so often during this campaign, United got the result they needed when not at their most fluent, with the industry of Darren Fletcher and the defensive solidity of Nemanja Vidic taking centre stage as Arsenal kept Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo on the margins.

United’s squad were introduced individually as the presentations began, but the biggest ovation of all was reserved for Ferguson, whose hunger, drive and desire have again been the inspiration for this triumph.

And as the pyrotechnics flashed around Old Trafford, Ferguson could start the preparations for further glory as he attempts to make United the first club to successfully defend the Champions League when they meet Barcelona in the final in Rome.

Tevez’s spectacular equaliser at Wigan earned him a starting place ahead of Dimitar Berbatov – with Ferguson clearly unmoved by continued speculation surrounding the Argentine’s future.

Andrey Arshavin was restored to Arsenal’s side after illness, and he saw plenty of possession in a first 45 minutes that saw Arsene Wenger’s side acquit themselves far better than when the pressure was on in the recent Champions League semi-final against United.

Frank Lampard ‘has higher IQ than Carol Vorderman’

The footballer returned one of the highest scores ever seen by experts who tested the intelligence of the entire Chelsea squad.

The former public schoolboy, 30, is now referred to as The Professor by Stamford Bridge team-mates, according to the Daily Star.

The tests were conducted by Brian English, the Chelsea club doctor, as part of research into how head injuries can affect footballers’ neurological development.

“John Terry was in the top three, but Frank Lampard scored one of the highest set of marks ever recorded by the company doing the tests, and higher than me,” Dr English said.

He declined to released the England midfielder’s precise score, but the newspaper quoted sources claiming it was more than 150 on the IQ scale, putting him in the most intelligent 0.1 per cent of the population.

Vorderman, the former Countdown presenter famed for her mathematical prowess, has an IQ of 154, while the national average is 100.

Lampard was educated at the fee-paying Brentwood School in Essex where he obtained 12 GCSEs – including an A in Latin – before turning professional at his first club West Ham.

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Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool

Liverpool revived their ambitions of claiming the Premier League title in remarkable fashion as they humiliated champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked on course to stretch their advantage at the top of the table when Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty gave them an early lead after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina fouled Ji-Sung Park.

But Fernando Torres hounded Nemanja Vidic into a mistake eight minutes later and raced through to coolly beat Edwin van der Sar.

And the transformation was complete a minute before the interval when Steven Gerrard scored from the spot after he had been upended by Patrice Evra.

United’s day of misery was summed up 15 minutes from time when Vidic, who had a nightmare afternoon at the hands of Torres, was sent off for fouling Gerrard and Fabio Aurelio brilliantly curled home the resulting free-kick from 25 yards.

The torment for United stretching into stoppage time when Liverpool substitute Andrea Dossena lobbed a composed finish over Van der Sar after being allowed to race unchallenged on to Reina’s goal-kick.

United remain firm favourites to claim the Premier League, with a four-point advantage and a game in hand, but if Liverpool needed any incentive to continue to carry the fight to United, the impressive manner of this performance will have provided it.

It has been a dream week for Rafael Benitez’s side, with both Real Madrid and United put to the sword with four-goal performances.

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Manchester United won the Carling Cup

Manchester United won the Carling Cup thanks to a 4-1 penalty shoot-out triumph over Tottenham at Wembley.

Jamie O’Hara’s spot-kick was saved by Ben Foster and David Bentley shot wide, with Anderson slotting home the winner.

The game was fairly even, with Spurs’ Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent both forcing brilliant saves from Foster.

United should have had a penalty when Cristiano Ronaldo was brought down and he rifled a left-foot shot against the post with the last kick of normal time.

But neither side could find a way through in the 30 minutes of extra-time too and it was left to penalties to settle it for only the second time in League Cup final history.

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Gerrard secures FA Cup draw for Liverpool

Liverpool and Everton face an FA Cup fourth round replay after their second draw inside a week at Anfield.

Joleon Lescott put Everton ahead after 27 minutes, turning in a Tim Cahill header from Steven Pienaar’s corner.

Liverpool drew level nine minutes after the break when Everton keeper Tim Howard allowed Steven Gerrard’s shot to squirm in after 54 minutes.

Howard redeemed himself with a stunning save from Gerrard, with Everton’s defensive power earning a draw.

Liverpool attacked constantly throughout, but Everton were magnificently marshalled at the back by Lescott and Phil Jagielka, both impressing under the watchful eye of England coach Fabio Capello.

Everton will be happier to take the tie back to Goodison Park, whereas Liverpool now have another vital game in a packed fixture list and it remains to be seen how boss Rafael Benitez treats the replay.

David Moyes’s side suffered a blow prior to kick-off when influential midfield man Mikel Arteta was ruled out with a rib injury sustained in training.

And there was a setback of a different kind for Liverpool’s £20m striker Robbie Keane, who did not even make the substitutes’ bench.

This is sure to cast further doubts over his long-term Liverpool future.

Liverpool, predictably, started at pace but it was Everton who posed the questions as Pienaar went down under challenge from Alvaro Arbeloa.

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