While I deeply sympathise with Ireland over the Thierry Henry handball incident which saw them not qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer, I also think it is ridiculous for FIFA to impose sanctions on the French striker.

This week FIFA president Sepp Blatter said they were looking at Henry's behaviour during the second leg of the play-off at Stade de France last month.

As we all know Henry's double hand ball led to William Gallas scoring the goal that gave France a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 win on aggregate to qualify for the World Cup instead of Ireland.

I suppose a replay of the match may have been fairer but then again you would open up a whole can of worms with that. Basically the referee got it wrong and later admitted it.

I have always said that I don't want technology to interfere with the game but I suppose a case can be made for it – after all we saw the whole thing here in Bermuda!

It would have only taken seconds for the fourth official to determine that it was a handball and the goal should not be allowed. Perhaps that is the way to go. But no way should Henry be banned or whatever. If you do that, then where do you stop?

While Ireland were furious, and rightly so, about going out of the World Cup qualifying the way they did, they also lost out on a lot of money.

This week FIFA said that the winners of the World Cup next year will be awarded $30 million and the runners-up will receive $24 million and all the teams will receive an extra $1 million to cover their costs.

Barcelona's and Argentina's great little playmaker Lionel Messi quite rightfully won the Golden Ball this week – and he did so by a record margin over World Player of the Year and last year's Golden Ball winner Ronaldo – now with Real Madrid.

I don't think anyone can argue with Messi winning Europe's top honour – the European Footballer of the Year award – especially after the great season he had with Barca. He led the Spanish giants to winning the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles last season – and he is only 22 years old.

Messi has been a wonder to watch – his skill on the ball is remarkable and he also plays with such exuberance.

Although he and Argentina did not have a great World Cup qualify campaign – they scraped in by their teeth – it is going to be fun watching him in South Africa next summer. He did play for Argentina in 2006 in Germany but was largely used as a sub. This time around I imagine he will be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Last Sunday's big match between Barca and Real Madrid saw Barca come away with a 1-0 victory in what I would describe as a very good game.

And what a wonderful goal by former Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the second half. He came on as a sub but if he had started it could have been more.

Having said that, Real had two excellent chances but Barca's keeper rose to the occasion. Barca won in midweek as well to go five points clear of Real who now have a game in hand. But it is still early days yet – there is so much to play for and I think this league will go down to the wire.

In the League Cup this week in England, Blackburn managed a great victory over league leaders Chelsea, winning on penalty kicks after the two had drawn 3-3.

That is great for Blackburn. I know that the League Cup is the least important for the big teams but it would be great to see a side like Blackburn get into the final – but they have to first get by Aston Villa.

And by doing so well in the League Cup may give Blackburn that extra bit of momentum in the league.

The other semi-final in the League Cup will be between rivals Manchester City and Manchester United – that would be a great final in itself!

United beat Spurs 2-0 and both goals came from young Northern Ireland player Darron Gibson. What I do like about his goals is that he took them from distance – it is something I would like to see more of today. It seems that so many players hesitate from shooting from outside the area.

Gibson is one of United's younger players and he is taking his chances – that is something you have to do at a team like United.

My boys West Ham host United this weekend and I am hoping to get something out of the game. We have done well against United in the past but we will have to be at our best.

One misgiving I have about the Hammers now is at right back where the American Jonathan Spector is playing. He actually started his career in England at Manchester United and has been with West Ham and Charlton since then. I think he needs a bit more bite – he backs off attackers far too much. He is a bit slack and is not tough enough.

Manchester City host Chelsea and that could be a good match – it will be interesting to see how City do. Although they lost this week in the League Cup quarter-finals, Chelsea handled Arsenal last Sunday with ease with Drogba scoring twice. It was like watching men against boys. Chelsea are so strong and while Arsenal do play beautiful football I think they definitely need help up front – especially with Van Persie now out injured for a few months.

The big match in Italy this weekend is Inter taking on the Old Lady – Juventus.

And Juv are coming off two 2-0 losses – to Bordeaux and Cagliari.

Inter are seven points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and eight ahead of Juv. I think that it will be AC Milan who will challenge Inter this season. They are playing some good stuff and Ronaldinho seems to be playing like his old self.

And now their new Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is getting among the goals. I watched last weekend when he knocked in both right at the end of the match against Catania. Huntelaar came to Italy this season from Real Madrid where he didn't get a lot of playing time and I was a bit surprised he didn't end up with a top English team. He certainly would fit in with the Premier League because he is strong and has that great all-round Dutch game.