Wenger feels replay is the only fair option

ARSENE WENGER, the former manager of Thierry Henry at Arsenal, was insistent yesterday that a rematch of the World Cup play-off is the only way of restoring French credibility ahead of next summer’s finals.

The French Football Federation’s (FFF) suggestion that it was time to “move on” will do little to ease the acute sense of embarrassment that has accompanied Raymond Domenech’s side’s progress to South Africa with Wenger, who was in Paris on Wednesday, suggesting the FFF has a moral obligation both to Ireland and to Henry to press for a rematch.

“The French Football Federation have to call for the game to be replayed – the credibility of France going to the World Cup depends on that,” said Wenger, who had successfully pressed, along with his vice-chairman David Dein, to have Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Sheffield United replayed 10 years ago when Marc Overmars’s winning goal was scored when the visitors had expected the ball to be returned to them after an injury.

“French football and France as a country have a duty not to leave Thierry out there alone against the whole world. France has to say: ‘Yes, it was a handball and we offer a replay,’” Wenger said.

“We want all sport to be fair. Now let’s be realistic. Football, and sport in general, is full of heroes who have cheated 10 times more than Thierry. For me people who bought referees, who took drugs, they are the real cheats in sport. Thierry Henry has 14 years behind of fair behaviour in sport and he is singled out today, for me, in the wrong way. You mustn’t go overboard with Thierry’s behaviour. He made one mistake, and who hasn’t made mistakes in life?”

Henry’s reaction in twice cushioning the ball with his left hand to ensure it did not drift out of play before squaring for Gallas to score, has drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona’s infamous first goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, though Wenger stressed the levels of intent were very different.

“I always said it was not the hand of God but the hand of the Devil, with Maradona,” he added. “I never accepted what he did. Thierry’s was an instinctive reaction of a striker. When the ball goes too far, you take your hand and use it . . . He meant to do it but what I mean is it is a reaction of a player when the ball is going out to keep it in.

“(He should apologise) because it is not a regular goal. You can understand at that moment, with the greed of wanting to score, he did that. With a little bit of distance, he is not a guy who wants to win pretty. He wants to win classy. But I am proud of the way France reacted. Everybody said: ‘No, that’s not the way we wanted to qualify.’ The only people who didn’t were political people. People are not happy.”

Fifa could fast-track extra referees

THIERRY HENRY’S handball against the Republic of Ireland could lead to Fifa fast-tracking the introduction of two additional referees in time for the World Cup in South Africa.

One of Fifa’s most senior officials yesterday confirmed the matter will be on the agenda at the law-making International Football Association Board meeting in Zurich next March.

“The situation of additional referees will be spoken about at the IFAB meeting,” said the official. “If you had additional referees in place, they would have seen it (the Henry handball). Michel Platini (the Uefa president) is in favour of the system of two more referees.”

- Guardian Service

Cross-channel conclusions; verdict of English Premier League bosses

"There were two offsides to start off with, even forgetting the handball. You can't see everything when you're a referee, but the pillock over the other side has got to see either the offside or the handball." – Mick McCarthy pays tribute to Wednesday night's officials

"If I was Richard Dunne I can tell you that Thierry Henry wouldn't have sat by me (at the end of the game). I'm 50 now, I'd shake Raymond Domenech's hand, but 20 years earlier, Henry would not have sat by me, not a snowball's chance in hell, knowing what he had just done." – McCarthy again.

"I was bitterly disappointed and upset about what happened in Paris (but) the saddest thing is we would have all taken it if it had happened for us. We'd have watched the World Cup if it was Ireland and forgotten about it. It's a sad indictment on all of us that we accept it." – McCarthy once more

"First of all it's very sad for Ireland who played a great game and go home bitter and frustrated. You can understand that. Being at the game I saw the referee give a goal knowing that something was wrong and that makes me really sad. We cannot accept that in our sport and we have to do something about it just for the sense of justice. It is quite embarrassing to see. France is embarrassed." – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

"My thoughts were for Trapattoni. He has prepared a team magnificently. It was a fantastic performance by them. He could not have asked for better. Then it was taken away from him. It happens. It has denied a couple of our players (John O'Shea and Darron Gibson) that great experience of playing in a World Cup finals." – Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson

"When he came back he was really badly affected . . . he admitted to me he was feeling very down about the whole affair . . . but there is no other option, unfortunately, but to get over it and wait for the pain to pass. It will take a long time because to be close to a World Cup and then not get there, on a clearly wrong refereeing decision, there is nothing you can say to make that pain get any easier." – Fulham manager Roy Hodgson on Damien Duff's mood when he returned to the club

"Richard (Dunne) is very, very disappointed. It is a real shame because Ireland were in a position to at least take the game to penalty kicks. It has been a devastating experience for him and I particularly feel for the experienced players in the side — the Dunnes, Givens, Duffs, Kilbanes and Keanes — more than the younger boys. It is a big blow to them. He didn't train today and I'm not surprised. Let me put it this way, he won't get over it overnight." – Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill

"People talk about Maradona's Hand of God goal but I'd say that (Henry's handball) was the biggest injustice I've ever seen in sport. Maybe I feel it more because I'm Irish. All that I believe in and all that I love about sport was shattered when I saw something like that. It's possibly the lowest I've felt at any sporting moment in my life." – Sunderland boss Niall Quinn

"You are almost saying that cheats have prospered. That can't be right in sport . . . unfortunately, on the day, Ireland have been punished by someone who has done something wrong. Henry is a great player, one of the best I have ever seen in English football, and this will be a stain on his character without a question of a doubt, but I feel it was more instinctive than anything else." – Liam Lawrence and Glenn Whelan's manager at Stoke, Tony Pulis

"I am disappointed for Ireland and naturally for (Giovanni) Trapattoni - and also for football because it is not good for the game." - Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti

"We're watching it on TV and can see in seconds that it is a handball. The fourth official is standing there stopping people standing a yard outside the technical area. He could be watching the screen for vital decisions. We've put a man on the moon and we can't see if the ball has hit a hand. It was so blatantly obvious and unfortunately the human error has cost Ireland. It was almost impossible to miss the handball, but they managed to miss it." ... - Harry Redknapp, Robbie Keane's Spurs manager

"I am not sure Sepp Blatter can hide behind anything any more. You can't put this game right now. Ireland have lost the opportunity to play in the World Cup. If you feel hard done by you have to try to do something about it. I am not so sure they will get very far with it (the request for a replay) but it is a great shame because of the effort they put in." - Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce

"It's a huge mistake from officials who otherwise had good games. It's just human error but there was so much at stake. What upset me the most was how unfair it was. Something has to be done." - West Bromwich Albion manager and former Italian international Roberto Di Matteo

"Obviously I am very disappointed for the Irish boys, it was a really bad way to go out of the tournament. But I do not believe games should be replayed, if you start doing that it will be chaos. Let's face it we (Germany) lost a World Cup final to England when the ball didn't cross the line. Can we replay that now?" - Lawrence and Whelan's team-mate Robert Huth

"You need to look at what he has done as a player and the way he is as a human being and I think everyone would agree he is not a cheat. In that situation, you're in extra-time and trying to win, it's instinct. I don't think it was something premeditated. Even he expected the ref to blow the whistle. How many times have you seen defenders in the area pulling people's shirts and we don't consider that cheating?" - Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, defending Henry

"It's all a little bit raw for Shay (Given) at the moment. The decision has been made and he has lost the opportunity of this World Cup, which is a shame. But it is not over for him. I can see him being the Irish goalkeeper for many years . . . there is no reason why he can't be around for the next two World Cups." ... - Manchester City manager Mark Hughes

"They have obviously had their disappointments over what happened on Wednesday. Our thoughts go out to the Irish team after the manner in which they were defeated, but they have a job to do at Hull. Putting an arm around Kevin Kilbane, 102 caps? I don't think he'll take too kindly to that. He'll understand our situation and focus fully on the game on Saturday." - Phil Brown of Hull's Kilbane, Paul McShane and Stephen Hunt

"I'm as gutted as anyone else. It is going to be the big talking point for weeks and months and years. Surely it is time now for technology to come into it. I can sympathise with the referee - even the television didn't pick it up until the replay - but it was obvious from the reaction of the Irish something untoward had happened. It might be human error, but we can change that with the technology we have got. That has got to be the way forward. I don't personally think it will be replayed. If the French FA come out and offer to do it, I will be absolutely staggered." - Sunderland manager Steve Bruce