Soccer:A member of the French Football Federation's (FFF) governing body, Guy Chambily, has called for national team coach Raymond Domenech to be sacked. Domenech has come under fire from several quarters in the wake of France's controversial qualification for the World Cup.
Since his appointment after Euro 2004, Domenech has twice been given a vote of confidence by the FFF, including in October this year following a disappointing qualifying campaign for South Africa.
A controversial victory over the Republic of Ireland in last month’s play-off hardly helped Domenech’s cause, and Chambily believes the coach has now run out
of lifelines.
"I wrote a letter to (FFF's chairman) Jean-Pierre Escalettes asking him to place the renewal of Domenech's contract on the agenda of the next meeting of the federal council," Chambily told soccer magazine France Football.
"I have two goals: the departure of Raymond Domenech and the protection of Jean-Pierre Escalettes, a very good man, who I know has been affected, even traumatised, by the situation we find ourselves in."
"I know the majority of the council members don't want to keep Domenech. My only fear is that they beat a retreat for personal reasons," added the 77-year-old businessman.
"The FFF begged me not to raise the problem and Jean-Pierre Escalettes asked me to think about it twice, referring to the media outburst that my request will cause."
Chambily is also surprised Domenech has been given the chance to lead France at the World Cup, as he understood the coach’s deal would end after the qualifying campaign.
“His contract was for World Cup qualification,” Chambily added. “That was his mission. They assure me today that, since he’s qualified the France team, he will automatically lead them during the finals.
“That’s news to me. The federal council certainly didn’t know about that clause.”
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