UEFA uphold ban on France coach Domenech

AFP - 4 September 2007 15:15

France national coach Raymond Domenech gives a press conference in Boulogne-Billancourt, August 2007. UEFA rejected Domenech´s appeal against a one-match ban, four days before his team face World Cup final rivals Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifying clash.

NYON, Switzerland (AFP) - UEFA on Tuesday rejected France coach Raymond Domenech's appeal against a one-match ban, four days before his team face World Cup final rivals Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifying clash.

European football's governing body had slapped the ban on Domenech last month for bringing the game into disrepute, following comments he made in a newspaper suggesting that an under 21 international match in 1999 had been rigged.

UEFA's appeals body decided, however, to lift a 10,000 Swiss Francs (8,000 dollars) fine on the French national team coach, UEFA spokesman Thomas Giordano said.

Domenech initally refused to comment after he left the hearing at UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland, saying "I don't know" in response to journalists' questions.

But later, speaking at his team's Clairefontaine training base ahead of the game in Milan, he said: "For me (the affair) is finished. I'll be in the stands for Italy-France on Saturday.

"I don't have any reaction. It's a decision that's been taken. I refer you back to (the song of) Serge Gainsbourg: 'No Comment'.

In a newspaper interview in August, Domenech alluded to a "referee being bought" during a tie between France and Italy's under 21 sides in 1999. He was the coach of the junior French team at the time.

A suspended coach is banned from the touchline and the dressing rooms during a match but can watch as a spectator in the stadium and give instructions by mobile telephone.

Domenech's opposite number, Roberto Donadoni, believed UEFA should have allowed the Frenchman to take his place in the dug out.

"If it was up to me Domenech would be on the touchline without any problem."

He added: "If I bump into Domenech in the stands I'll shake his hand."

For one of his players at least, Lassana Diarra, Domenech's absence changes nothing.

"We'll prepare in the same way, it won't make any difference. The staff will manage the situation well," predicted the Arsenal midfielder.

He added: "All the players are a bit sad the coach won't be there but we'll just have to focus on the job in hand. I'm there to do what I have to do, not to join in the off the pitch chit-chat."