Fifa say Wednesday's World Cup play-off between France and Ireland will not be replayed, while Arsene Wenger and David Beckham are among those offering their opinions. It seems everyone wants a say on Thierry Henry's handball.

Les Bleus were outplayed by the Republic in Paris, and the visitors led 1-0 to take the tie into extra-time. An extra-time goal from William Gallas, which followed Henry handling the ball to control it before pulling it back to the defender, gave the French a 2-1 aggregate victory and sent them to next year's World Cup finals.

The Football Association of Ireland asked for the game to be replayed, with Fifa replying on Friday saying the result would stand.

Wenger helped turn Henry into the force he is today, having plucked his countryman from Juventus and turned him into one of the most feared strikers in Europe at Arsenal.

"The goal we scored was hard to swallow if you were in the opposite camp. We would have preferred to qualify in a different manner," he said.

"All the stadium has seen the handball, but the referee hasn't. This isn't the French way and football should learn from this. I have spoken to Henry after the game and he knows it was not correct but it is up to the referee also to stop the play.

"In the end we qualified because of a referee's mistake, the strength of a wrist and also the clumsiness of the Irish in front of their goal."

David Beckham also knows a thing or two about being villified in the popular press. After his red card against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup finals, also in France, he faced harsh tabloid criticism and unsavoury - to say the least - comments from football supporters as he travelled up and down the country playing for Manchester United.

Beckham, now playing for Los Angeles Galaxy in the USA, said football should move on from the incident.

"I honestly didn't think Thierry meant it. I know him as a player and a person. He's a good person and a great player. It's a shame to see Ireland go out because they have such great fans but these things happen in football," he said.

"I really don't think he meant it. I've had a few headlines in the past which have not been nice but I don't think he is a cheat."