Domenech debate ´ill-advised´ – French football chief

A call to discuss Raymond Domenech’s future as coach of France at Friday’s French Football Federation (FFF) executive meeting has been described as “ill-timed and counter-productive”.

The demand was made by FFF board member Guy Chambily, who told France Football magazine that he wanted the controversial national manager sacked, despite France qualifying for the 2010 World Cup via the play-offs.

Reaction to Chambily’s comments was swift, and dismissive.

“The president (of the FFF, Jean-Pierre Escalettes) considers that such a debate would be ill-timed and counter-productive, both for the Federation and the French team,” FFF assistant managing director Jean-Louis Valentin told AFP on Tuesday.

Valentin added: “We shouldn’t dramatise Monsieur Chambily’s comments. He’s an elected member of the executive board, he has the right to express himself.

“This is all part of the democratic life of the federation. What’s more, there is a call for a debate on the manager’s future. The board will decide whether to grant this request or not.”

Valentin pointed out that Domenech’s position had already been discussed by the FFF after France’s poor showing at the 2008 European Championship, when they failed to make it out of the first round.

“Views were expressed at the time calling for him to be replaced,” he said.

“I’m thinking here of Christian Teinturier (who abstained in the vote that kept Domenech in his job last year).

“It’s nothing new that members of the executive council have different views from the majority. But I don’t think that’s enough to change the agreement.”

Valentin was also at pains to clarify the precise nature of Domenech’s contract after Chambily suggested that the 57-year-old had only been obliged to “qualify France for the World Cup”.

“The contract runs up to July 31, 2010 and his mission, as part of his deal, was to qualify Les Bleus for the World Cup.

“In July 2008, then in October 2008, we decided that as long as Raymond Domenech qualified the France team then his contract would run until the end of its term.”

Valentin concluded: “President Escalettes is calm, he defends his choices and his desire to let board members express their own opinions.”

The Domenech issue comes after France, having finished second to Serbia in their World Cup qualifying group, beat the Republic of Ireland in a two-legged play-off last month.

A 1-0 win in the first leg at Croke Park was followed by the drama of the second leg at the Stade de France when Thierry Henry’s handball led to William Gallas scoring in extra time to send France to South Africa 2-1 on aggregate.

Domenech, who led France to the final of the 2006 World Cup, has failed to win over the French public during his combative tenure.

He provoked a storm of criticism when he chose his post-match interview after France were knocked out of Euro 2008 as the moment to propose live on French television to his girlfriend.