Domenech's touchline ban is upheld

NYON, Switzerland -- French national coach Raymond Domenech has failed with his appeal against a one-match touchline ban, four days before the European Championship qualifying match against Italy in Milan.

UEFA upheld the ban it imposed 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.

The appeals body decided, though, to cancel an $8,000 fine originally given to the coach, UEFA spokesman Thomas Giordano said.

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

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.

Domenech will be banned from the touchline and the dressing rooms during the Italy match, but can give instructions by mobile telephone from the stand. E-mail to a friend