Dunne: We were cheated

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Ireland lost a dramatic play-off 2-1 on aggregate in Paris as a result of William Gallas' extra-time goal. However, the Irish players were furious that Swedish referee Martin Hansson had not spotted Thierry Henry's handball before he delivered the decisive 103rd-minute cross.

Dunne, who spoke to Henry on the final whistle, said: "He admitted afterwards he handled it, but it doesn't make me feel any better because we are not going to the World Cup finals. FIFA will probably be happy. Yet again the big decisions have gone for the bigger team."

He added: "There has to be a case for matches of this importance for a fourth official to look at replays and get the calls right. We were cheated."

Henry himself admitted he had handled the ball but laid responsibility for the goal being allowed at the door of referee Hansson.

"It was a handball, but I'm not the ref," he said on BBC Radio Five Live. "The ball hit my arm, fell in front of me and I played it. The ref allowed it. That's a question you should ask him."

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was left to reflect upon the biggest disappointment of his career as his brave troops were left empty-handed.

Henry appeared to twice control the ball with his hand before crossing for Gallas to score and, although the Ireland players protested vehemently to Hansson, he was not about to change his mind.

Trapattoni said: "This is the biggest disappointment of my career. The referee had time to ask the linesman and then after to ask Henry.

"It would not have been the first time a player would have asked and it would not have been out of turn. I am upset for fair play."