Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that the planned International match against Costa Rica is damaging for both the clubs and players that are taking part.

Wenger will allow the release of striker Thierry Henry, and possibly midfielder Robert Pires, for France's friendly against Costa Rica, to be played on the French administered Caribbean Island of Martinique on November the 9th although he believes the match will harm both clubs and players.

The French Football Federation said the match against Costa Rica would be a tribute to the families of the 152 French nationals from Martinique, who died in a plane crash in August in Venezuela.

The game is set to be played just three days before France play the hosts of the forthcoming World Cup Germany, in a friendly in Paris as part of their preparations for the 2006 World Cup finals.

Wenger, in an interview with the French sports paper L'Equipe on Thursday said; "This match will be harmful not only to the clubs but also to the players. It's pure nonsense… The match has been arranged. Either France travel to Martinique at full strength or they don't go. To field a B team or just players from the French West Indies would be even more senseless."

Thierry Henry, who celebrated his return from injury by scoring a double for Arsenal in their Champions League win against Sparta Prague on Tuesday, told French media he was overjoyed at the prospect of playing the game.

"I can't imagine missing that match. It's natural for Arsene (Wenger) to be against it but I hope he will understand," he said.

Olympique Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has threatened not to release his players, arguing that FIFA set aside November the 12th and November the 16th for International friendlies, which means theoretically the clubs can keep their players back.

"If I read the rules, we are not obliged to release them so I will talk with (coach) Gerard (Houllier) and the players," he said. "However, if I were the only one to decide, I would not release them."

Francesco Guidolin, coach of French Club side Monaco said that he had no objection to the game. "When I was in Italy, I said that priority has to be given to the National teams during a pre-World Cup year. I'm not going to change my mind."

Lens chairman Gervais Martelnational thinks the situation has been blown out of all proportion, and "should not even be discussed".

"Our sport must be generous and show that it is more than a business from time to time, and we must not forget how much French soccer owes to our Caribbean territories" he said.

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