Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger Leaps To The Defence Of Thierry Henry

By Andrew Southwick

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has leapt to the defence of Thierry Henry after his handball helped France qualify for the World Cup.

Henry's handball in the build up to the winning goal in Wednesday's play-off against the Republic of Ireland has brought condemnation from across the football world.

Ireland have called on FIFA to replay the match, something which Henry has also supported, though the French Football Federation have refuted the suggestion.

Wenger, Henry's former manager at Arsenal, admitted that he was 'embarrassed', but defended Henry.

"I believe it is embarrassing," he told Sky Sports News. "I support France and it's embarrassing to qualify the way we qualified.

"I feel Thierry will feel vindicated in a wrong way because anybody who has played football can understand these kind of reactions.

"He was the big loser in this story, because if he had come out and said 'it was a handball', half of France would say 'how crazy is he?' to cut off the road to the World Cup. And if he doesn't say it straight away then he is as well guilty.

"Thierry Henry has played here for 10 years basically and has always been super fair. Football and sport in general is full of heroes who have cheated 10 times more than Thierry.

"If someone has to do something for Thierry Henry it is French football and France as a country, and not leave him out there alone against the whole world."

When asked whether he expected Henry to own up immediately, he added: "It is feasible to think it, is it realistic? No.

"I think it's not right to put the responsibility on one side, on the player's shoulder, and say you have to win absolutely at any cost and you have to qualify us.

"And then when that happens the whole country turns against Thierry Henry, I think that's unfair.

"He has come out and said he has made a mistake and touched the ball with his hand, he is honest."

Wenger called for a replay in 1999 when Arsenal unfairly defeated Sheffield United in the FA Cup after Nwankwo Kanu failed to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper from a throw-in, and the Gunners boss believes in fairness.

"I like justice in sport and I believe that football has a big responsibility to show how you want international life to go on and be an example for people who watch the game," he added..

"That is part of the values football wants to defend.

"I believe that there are only two opportunities - One France can offer to replay, which I support personally, and the second situation is that FIFA has to make a decision on that issue. Can we make sure that that doesn't happen again.

"We want to beat Ireland properly and that didn't happen, simple as that. Let's make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Wenger also conceded that the referee was not to blame for allowing the goal, commenting: "What is terrible for the referee is he gave the goal knowing something was not regular, and yet no help.

"He knew that something was not right. Then he asked for some help from the linesman, who couldn't give him the help."