Furious Henry hits out at referee
By John Sinnott
BBC Sport in Paris

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry was disgusted with referee Terje Hauge's display as his side's Champions League hopes were ended by Barcelona in Paris.

Henry told BBC Sport: "We haven't got anything out of the final, despite all our hard work.

"I was kicked all over the place. I expected the referee to do his job. I don't think he did."

Henry also reacted angrily when asked about his future: "Listen, let's talk about some proper questions."

The Frenchman, who was fuming after the game, also felt Samuel Eto's equaliser should have been disallowed for offside.


We can be more than proud but I'm sorry, some of the refereeing was horrendous
Thierry Henry

"I'm not usually a troublemaker, but I've just seen the television and Eto'o's goal was offside.

"It was always going to difficult to play Barcelona. But with 10 men that is almost impossible.

"Jens probably deserved to be sent off - there is nothing to be said about that. But in the first half Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol went right through me and they didn't even get a yellow.

"Then I got the ball in front of the bench and Mark Van Bommel kicks me and I end up getting a yellow."

Henry added: "When you see Eto'o is offside it kills you. It kills you because you've been defending and running.

"I was dead after an hour. I was trying to do some stuff when Alex Hleb gave me that amazing ball, I tried to go as far as I could and hit the ball, but I just couldn't.

"It's just sad. You can lose, but to lose like that.

"I tried to do what I could and try and defend and try and bring the ball back and help the team, but if they allow an offside goal it is going to be even more difficult.

"Everyone was talking about Ronaldinho before the game. I didn't see him today and I didn't see Eto'o," he said.

"Henrik Larsson made the difference by setting up two goals. That was the key.

"We can be proud, we can be more than proud, but, I'm sorry, some of the refereeing today was horrendous."

Henry has long been linked with a move to Barcelona, and he had a long conversation with opposition striker Samuel Eto'o after the final whistle.

But Eto'o said: "It was a private thing. We're friends. If we'd lost I'd have been sad but happy for him that he'd won."

Henry continued to express his unhappiness at the referee's performance during ther trophy ceremony after the game.

The Arsenal captain shook his head as Hauge went to collect his medal, while the Arsenal fans inside the Stade de France booed.