France striker Thierry Henry admits he used his hand to help nail the equalizer in his team's 1-1 draw with Ireland in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

With Ireland leading 1-0 and the match was in the first period of extra time, Henry twice handled the ball, stopping it going out of play, then controlling it before setting up Gallas for a header, according to AP report.

After the match, Henry admitted that it was a handball.

"I will be honest, it was a handball. But I'm not the ref," he was quoted.

After winning 1-0 in Dublin on Saturday, France won 2-1 on aggregate, and will play in its fourth straight World Cup.

Ireland failed to qualify, as in 2006.