Cantona: I’d have hit Henry

ERIC CANTONA says he would have HIT Thierry Henry if he was one of the Republic of Ireland players cheated of their World Cup spot.

The former France and Manchester United star said: "What shocks me the most quite frankly, is not the hand-ball.

"What shocks me the most is that this player, at the end of the game, in front of the TV cameras, went to sit down next to an Ireland player to comfort him - when he had just screwed him."

Cantona could not believe Henry chose to sit and chat with Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne after his handball set up William Gallas for the goal which ended Ireland's World Cup dream in Paris.

Cantona, infamous for his kung-fu kick at a fan, added: "If I had been an Irishman, he wouldn't have lasted three seconds."

Former Arsenal striker Henry has finally done the decent thing and admitted that the World Cup qualifying play-off should be replayed.

Henry said: "The fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control."

The incident has destroyed Henry's reputation as a football ambassador.

There was a feeling that if Henry and the French had asked for it, the Irish may have had a chance.

But FIFA have already said they will not order a replay and the French Football Federation last night insisted they do not want to play the game again.

Henry admitted: "I feel embarrassed at the way that we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who deserve to be in South Africa.

"But I am not a cheat. If people look at it in full speed you will see that it was instinctive."