Former Republic of Ireland international Jason McAteer believes France's controversial extra-time goal on Wednesday night has proved that additional officials behind each goal are needed.

Thierry Henry has admitted he handled the ball in the led-up to the William Gallas equaliser that ultimately sealed France's place in next summer's World Cup finals.

Referee Martin Hansson did not, however, spot the infringement amongst a clutch of players in the area and McAteer believes the right decision would have been made if an addition official was stationed behind the goal.

"Yes, of course it would have done. The fourth official behind the goal would have seen the handball," McAteer told Sky Sports News.

"That would have solved the problem.

"There's always going to be human error but the referee's do need assistance. There's diving that we are talking about at the minute, I think another referee behind the goal is a good idea."

UEFA have this season trialled the use of additional referees behind the goal in the Europa League, which has received a mixed reaction from players and managers.

The calls for video technology also continue for key decisions, however, McAteer is unsure whether that would aid the game.

"The problem is that the governing bodies in football are trying to speed up the game with the backpass rule for instance coming into play," McAteer added.

"If you bring too much technology in to it then it will slow it down which is what they don't want.

"I think from the player's reaction, Shay Given's reaction, you could see straight away something was wrong.

"It wouldn't take long for the referee to consult his linesman for 10-15 seconds.

"If it took only 10-15 seconds that wouldn't harm the game. But if you bring cameras into goals and you have to stop, go into a camera room then it's going to slow things down too much."

Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen, meanwhile, has waded in on the Republic's behalf, branding Henry a cheat.

"Henry is saying he is an honest guy but to get away with murder like that you can't justify it," said the Dane.

"I'm not even going to hold back. He didn't do it on purpose...blah blah blah - he put it down to his right foot.

"He didn't do it on purpose? My 'beep'. I won't say the words cheats - but I said it (on this occasion)."

Jensen said he felt sorry for the Republic but admitted the price of getting to a World Cup meant players would do almost anything to book a place to South Africa.

"I feel sad for the Irish because they deserved to go through," added the keeper.

"That is the worst France team I have seen in a long time. Over the two legs Ireland were the best by a mile.

"There has to be fair play but there was a lot at stake.

"What can you do? Fine them? There is [a place at] the World Cup finals at stake."

Ireland's Kevin Kilbane, who played the full 120 minutes in last night's match, went further, calling on FIFA to arrange a replay and pillorying Hansson for his explanation of events.

Kilbane told TalkSPORT: "I'd like to think it would be replayed and I think everyone in the squad would like it replayed.

"You see for yourself he's handballed it once and it's still going out of play so he's handled it again to make sure it doesn't go out of play.

"I asked him on the pitch 'did you handball it?' and he said, 'Yes, but I didn't mean it'. But when I've seen the replay it's there for all to see that we were let down. It's a massive disappointment for us all here.

"I went over to the referee after the game had finished and I asked him what happened and if he'd seen the handball.

"He said 'I can 100% say it wasn't handball'. When he said that to me I knew full well that he was just lying to me because he hadn't even seen it."

Hull defender Kilbane went on to describe how his side's sense of injustice is only likely to increase as the build-up to the finals begins in earnest.

"It will be worse in a couple of week's time when the draw is made. We'll have to lift ourselves up again," he said.

"We can hold our heads up high because we played so well and we should have won the game and that's the ultimate disappointment.

"We played so well, but we can't come back knowing we're going to a World Cup in the summer."

Burnley manager Owen Coyle, who played one international for the Republic in 1994, said he felt deflated after Wednesday night's result.

"I've represented Ireland myself and I was genuinely gutted and disappointed for them," he said.

"There is no doubt it clearly hit Thierry Henry's hand, probably twice, and Ireland have come off the wrong side of that.

"I think there were so many bodies in the box it was difficult for the referee to see it and he was probably looking for some help from his assistant.

"I don't think Henry has gone to purposely cheat but it has hit his hand and they have benefited from it.

"But you knew straight away from the Ireland players' reaction and maybe that could have alerted the referee.

"It is always hard to take, particularly when there is a World Cup at stake, but there are always going to be mistakes and decisions missed.

"These things happen every weekend, whether it be a Sunday league game or an international match, that is just one of the things about football.

"That is one of the cruel things about football."

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton, also a former Republic international, said: "I'm incredibly disappointed. Very, very disappointed.

"I think for the Irish team to run such a wonderful campaign and to get to the stage where they were, and to play as well as they did, makes it so incredibly disappointing that the defining moment, the goal that stops them going to the World Cup, is as it was.

"I think as Trapattoni said afterwards, I would have preferred it if they had gone out on penalties as opposed to that type of goal.

"It is one that will be shown throughout the world for everyone to see.

"Everyone will have an opinion on it. It will probably harden a desire for technology that will put a stop to it."