The controversy surrounding Ireland's World Cup 2010 playoff tilt began well before Thierry Henry got his paws anywhere ... messages from home buzzed in: 'Handball' Back home, slumped Irish ...

These followed Ireland's 2-1 loss on aggregate to France in November 2009, a result partly achieved by an unpunished Thierry Henry handball that produced France's playoff-clinching goal.

READ MORE: Ireland’s Caoimhin Kelleher on what ... "The match was so heated that, from my penalty area, I didn't see Thierry Henry's handball on William Gallas' equalizer in extra time.