Henry Now Pleading Ignorance On Handball Rule

BARCELONA - Over a week since his hugely controversial assist took France to the World Cup finals, Thierry Henry has revealed his latest attempt to regain the footballing world's trust. Having pleaded innocence before confessing that he intentionally handled the ball late last week, Henry now claims that he was unaware that handball was against the laws of the game.

"You may find it hard to believe, but I've never heard that using your hand to control the ball was not allowed", the France and Barcelona striker announced at a press conference this afternoon. "I'm always doing it in training". When quizzed by a journalist as to why he had never committed such a noticeable handball previously, Henry claimed that he had "never mastered the skill" so effectively before.

Henry's comments will do little to quell the bad feeling he has experienced following his transgression in last week's vital play-off against Ireland. The FAI were unavailable for comment, but Spurs and Ireland striker Robbie Keane has labelled Henry's latest defence "disappointing". Sources claim that following his latest unsuccessful attempt to regain the respect he has lost so comprehensively, Henry will claim following Barca's game with Real Madrid this weekend that the handball was a practical joke that backfired.