French coach Raymond Domenech has condemned the backlash against Thierry Henry after the handball that led to their World Cup qualification.

"It made me furious that Thierry can be treated this way," the France manager said. "I have not slept for two days and I am just starting to get over it. When France were given an unjustified red card against the Serbs, Serbia did not launch a campaign to denigrate our team."

Henry has admitted he considered retiring from international football after the uproar, but Domenech does not believe he would have quit.

"No, I do not think so," he said. But when I called, he was like all of us -- surprised, stunned. I have tremendous respect for him as a man and a footballer.

"Titi (Henry) is one of the most talented players in the history of French football. We qualified for the World Cup. For months now, despite his injury, he participated in all our matches at the risk of being yelled at by his club, Barcelona. 'Les Bleus' is his reason for living as a footballer."

Sepp Blatter yesterday called an extraordinary meeting of FIFA chiefs after the play-offs, but the governing body are not considering a U-turn over their decision to refuse a replay.

Domenech agrees with FIFA that it would have been "impossible" to replay the match. Both captains, Henry and Robbie Keane, and respected figures in French football, such as Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, called for the game to be replayed following last Wednesday's fiasco.

But, when asked if that would indeed have been the "fairest solution" as Henry suggested, Domenech replied: "No, it would have been impossible. Or it should be done after every incident that goes unpunished.

"Let's solve the problem of refereeing -- that is the real debate."

Domenech also responded to criticism aimed at him from ex-players, including Eric Cantona and 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu. Cantona claimed Domenech was the worst coach since Louis XVI, while Lizarazu shared a heated exchange with the coach on live radio moments after France's triumph.

"I did not know that Louis XVI had been a coach," said Domenech. "I put Cantona in the same batch as the others. He is coach of a beach soccer team and failed to qualify for the World Cup. He should show decency."

- John Nisbet