INTERNATIONAL NEWS:A SENIOR MEMBER of the French Football Federation's governing body has called for national team manager Raymond Domenech to be replaced.

Guy Chambily has written to Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the president of the federation, asking him to place the renewal of Domenech’s contract on the agenda of the next meeting of the federal council on Friday.

The French manager, who was appointed in 2004, has been under pressure because of France’s poor performances during their World Cup qualifying campaign and reports of discord between players and management. France only secured their place at next year’s competition by beating the Republic of Ireland thanks to the goal set up by Thierry Henry’s handball.

“I have two goals: the departure of Raymond Domenech as manager 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,” Chambily told France Football magazine.

He said he was concerned the image of the French team, as well as those of the federation and its president, had become “totally disastrous” and that the controversy over Henry’s handball was the final straw.

When told that Domenech’s contract ran until the World Cup itself, Chambily remarked that the manager’s “mission” was qualification and suggested it didn’t automatically follow he would continue in his position for the tournament itself. “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 twice, referring to the media outburst that my request will cause.”

This is the first time a member of the FFF’s federal council has openly called for Domenech’s departure. The manager has twice been given a vote of confidence by a large majority of 18 and 19 members of the 21-man council.

It is widely assumed in France that Domenech will step down after the World Cup, with Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc the favourite to succeed him.

Asked about Chambily’s comments, Escalettes accepted there was a need to “put right” the image of the French team but would not be drawn on his colleague’s suggestion. “I think it’s more important to try to see what we can do to re-establish, and put right if we can, this negative image rather than start again on the same debates that have been running for two years,” he said.

The French federation was widely criticised last week when it was reported Domenech had earned more than €800,000 in match bonuses during France’s qualifying campaign. France’s economy minister Christine Lagarde said she was shocked by reports that Domenech had earned €826,222 in bonuses over the two-year period.