Wolves striker Kevin Doyle blamed the match officials - and not Arsenal legend Thierry Henry - for the handball that saw France dump the Republic of Ireland out of World Cup contention.

Barcelona striker Henry clearly handled the ball before setting up his former Arsenal team-mate William Gallas to head Les Bleus into the finals in South Africa next summer.

Robbie Keane's goal had earlier cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's first-leg strike to take the tie into extra time.

Doyle said: "I don't know about the ref not seeing it, but the linesman had as good a view as anyone and him not seeing it is embarrassing."

But the Wolves man declined to blame Henry, saying: "It's instinctive and if you can get away with it... I'm sure he was expecting the (free-kick to be given) and I can't believe it's not been caught.

"I don't blame him, so much as it not being seen. It's difficult, we're playing in Paris in front of a big crowd and it's just difficult for us to get (what was) not even a 50-50 decision. He's caught it and pulled it back again.

"We had the better chances, we came at them and didn't let them settle.

"We played the better football over the two legs, and they got an own goal from 25 yards in the first leg (Anelka's strike which deflected off St Ledger) and that goal, which was just embarrassing."