UEFA rejected French national team manager Raymond Domenech's appeal against a one-match suspension on Tuesday, 4 September, four days before France travel to Milan to face Italy in a key Euro 2008 qualifying fixture.
The ban stemmed from an August newspaper interview in which Domenech suggested a referee had been paid during a 1999 under-21 match between France and Italy. He was coaching the French junior side at the time, and UEFA ruled the remarks brought the game into disrepute.
The governing body's appeals panel reduced the penalty in one respect, lifting a 10,000 Swiss Francs fine. Domenech left the hearing at UEFA headquarters in Nyon without elaborating, telling reporters only: "I don't know."
Under UEFA rules, a suspended manager may not enter the technical area or dressing rooms but may watch from the stands and relay instructions by mobile phone during the match.
Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra said France would prepare as normal and that the coaching staff were well placed to manage on the day without Domenech pitchside.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2007, in its own words.