The Swedish referee who missed a Thierry Henry handball before the goal against Ireland that sent France to the World Cup in 2010 is to quit his full-time refereeing post. "There is no drama in it", Martin Hansson told the Kvallsposten newspaper. "I wanted a job with greater security, workmates and not to stand or fall because of football".
The 42-year-old has been a full-time referee since 2009 and said he would continue on a part-time basis. Hansson faced severe criticism when he failed to see a handball by France's Henry in the lead-up to their extra-time equaliser against Ireland. The draw in the World Cup play-off second leg in Paris sent France to the finals in South Africa. Hansson has officiated in Sweden's Allsvenskan since 2001 and became one of six full-time referees in 2009, year when he was appointed for the FIFA Confederations Cup final. A part-time firefighter even when refereeing, he now has a job with the emergency services. "It will be like it was before we were employed full-time, when one had a normal job", Hansson told Kvallsposten.
Source: Eurosport
Source: Eurosport
