FIFA opened a disciplinary case Wednesday against France forward Thierry Henry for handling the ball in the World Cup playoff against Ireland last month. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that its disciplinary committee will look at Henry's behavior in the Nov. 18 second leg at Stade de France. FIFA's executive committee met Wednesday and referred the case to the independent disciplinary panel. It has the authority to impose a one-match suspension on Henry, which would take effect at the start of the World Cup in June. Henry twice handled the ball before passing to William Gallas, who scored the goal that gave France a 1-1 draw and 2-1 win on aggregate to qualify for the World Cup instead of Ireland. No extra refs FIFA rejected the use of extra match officials at next year's World Cup Wednesday despite the uproar over Henry's handball that helped France qualify at the expense of Ireland. “It has been decided that for the World Cup 2010 there is no change for referees. We will still have one referee, two assistants, one No. 4 and perhaps additional subs on the bench. But on the field of play, you will have one referee and two assistants.”
