Thierry Henry agreed with the call that disallowed Harry Kane’s last-gasp winner during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday night, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (26/10/22 at 10:10 pm).
It was a controversial ending in north London, with Antonio Conte and Spurs thinking that they had progressed through to the knockout stages of the Champions League when Kane riffled in Emerson Royal’s header at the near post.
That decision caused a lot of confusion and anger from those in Spurs colours, with Conte shown a red card for expressing his discontent at that call after the full-time whistle.
But whilst Spurs fans will be waking up the following day thinking that they were robbed, well, a certain Premier League legend doesn’t think so.
Thierry Henry was reacting to that offside goal, alongside another legendary figure in Peter Schmeichel, as that decision was being explained to them by an American referee, Christina Unkel.
The former Arsenal striker made it clear ‘you (Kane) can’t be ahead of the ball, if not, then you are offside’, as Schmeichel admitted that he didn’t understand the ruling.
“The blue line is exactly being drawn when it was last touched by Emerson,” said referee Christina Unkel. “To confirm it is semi-automated offside technology, so these lines you see are lines drawn in place by the referees. Semi-automated technology comes in, reviews it and then confirms it.
Peter Schmeichel then responded: “But the ball goes backwards. Does that not matter anymore?”
Referee Christina Unkel added: “You are talking about if you are in an offside position and then are coming back to play the ball, right? So, he (Kane) is already in front. Once that touch happens, that’s when we track exactly when the offside position is at. But, because you know he’s coming back, he is coming back from an offside position into an onside position of play.”
Thierry Henry interrupted: “Peter, you didn’t know that?!” Schmeichel then proceeded to tell the Arsenal legend that he didn’t and Micah Richards then asked why it ‘took so long to come to that conclusion.'”
Thierry Henry then added: “You can’t be ahead of the ball, if not, then you are offside. It doesn’t matter (on the ball being passed backwards).”
Richards then laughed: “So, it’s that simple. Understand that, Peter?”
FINAL WEEK SHOWDOWN
Well, that drama from last night now means that Tottenham go into the final week of their Group D Champions League encounter with everything to play for.
Spurs are sitting top with eight points, whilst Marseille are bottom on six points – the duo will play each other next week at the Stade Velodrome.
Everything is possible here for all four teams, but Spurs know that a point is enough and they are through, but lose and, if there is a winner between Sporting and Frankfurt, then it’s an early exit in the Champions League for the Premier League side.
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