Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Thierry Henry as the biggest loser in the controversy over the handball that helped France qualify for the World Cup and renewed his call for video technology to assist referees.

Wenger said Friday that Henry - his former striker at Arsenal - was in an impossible position after his handball set up an equaliser for William Gallas in the 1-1 draw with Ireland.

Wenger, who is French and was at the game, said if Henry had admitted the offence to the referee he would have angered all of France for potentially stopping the team from reaching the World Cup. By saying nothing until after the game, Henry was denounced by much of the world as a cheat.

"He was the big loser in this story," said Wenger, who admitted he was embarrassed at the way France qualified. "If he had come out and said it was handball, half of France would say: 'how crazy is he?' If he does not say it straightaway he is as well guilty."