Barcelona, Nov 23 France striker Thierry Henry had his first taste of crowd hate after his World Cup shame, when he was roundly booed during Barcelona's 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league.

It was Henry's first appearance since his blatant handball, which set up William Gallas' crucial goal in France's World Cup play-off win over Ireland.

The 32- was roundly booed and the deafening whistles at the Camp Nou gave him a taste of things to come.

However, former France striker Zinedine Zidane has defended Henry and said: "He will get over this. He made a mistake, like I made a mistake."

"I'm not saying it was nothing, but it was handball, that's it," The Sun quoted Zidane, as saying. (ANI)