WHAT is the difference between gamesmanship and cheating?

It is not an age-old question. I just thought of it about five minutes ago after reading about the kerfuffle French striker Thierry Henry caused in this week’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

For those who haven’t heard, Henry took matters into his own hands to set up the goal that gave France a 1-1 draw against Ireland in Paris.

Thinking controlling the ball with his foot was antiquated, Henry pulled a William Webb Ellis, deliberately touched the ball with his hand twice before crossing it to the waiting head of William Gallas, who dutifully scored.

The result was enough to ensure France qualified for next year’s World Cup in South Africa and Ireland missed out.

Issues of sportsmanship aside, was it really wise for France to give the western world another reason not to like them?

The joint already had an image problem but of all the countries to screw over, did they have to pick Ireland?

Everybody loves the Irish. They’ve given us U2, Guinness, the dirty limerick, Liam Neeson, Riverdance, Shane MacGowan’s teeth and the easiest accent in the world to imitate when you’re drunk.

But thanks to France, they won’t be able to watch their beloved national team in the world’s biggest sporting event.

Back to the question in the opening line – What is the difference between gamesmanship and cheating?

The way I see it, gamesmanship is a subtle exploitation of the rules.

It is done on the sly. There is an art to it, like peeking at a busty woman’s cleavage without getting caught.

What is done is still in the spirit of the contest and you can sleep at night knowing no one will be burning effigies of you in the morning.

Cheating is blunter and uglier.

It is the equivalent of surgeons at the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital using a guillotine to separate the conjoined twins instead of a scalpel.

There is nothing subtle or skilful about it.

It’s a blatantly wrong act, contravening all the moral codes taught to us by our parents and Sesame Street, and there is no spin you can put on it to justify the outcome.

So is Thierry Henry, one of the best players in world, an Arsenal and soon-to-be Barcelona legend, a cheat?

If you use my criteria you
would have to say he is.

The thing is, if the referee had seen the handball, pulled it up and disallowed the goal, the controversy would be non-existent.

But the ref and the other match officials missed it.

At the press conference after the game, Henry enflamed the situation further by admitting he deliberately handballed while not apologising for it.

After realising Osama bin Laden is now the only person in the world more unpopular than he is, Henry has since backtracked and issued an apology the wussiest and Frenchest way possible – on Twitter.

The thing with controversies is that they eventually go away and so will Henry’s in the larger scheme of the sport.

But to be safe, Henry should not plan any trips to the Emerald Isle for the next 20 or 30 years.

The Irish know how to hold a grudge – just ask the English.

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