Sunday November 22 2009 Raymond Domenech was the sole obstacle to Ireland's game against France being replayed, the Sunday Independent has learned.Domenech refused to allow the French Football Federation to agree to a replay of France's game against Ireland despite the overwhelming backing of the French squad, the French public and key figures within the federation.The FAI yesterday conceded that there was no chance of a replay following the statement from the FFF on Friday night. Yet it has emerged that the French were close to agreeing but Domenech, who would have been fired if France had been eliminated last Wednesday, insisted there should be no second chance for Ireland.During several discussions on Friday, Domenech would not back down despite the increased pressure following the statements from Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger, who both called for the game to take place again, probably on Wednesday week.The French public were overwhelming in favour of the game being replayed but the views of the French squad were even more influential and on Thursday night and Friday morning the feeling grew within the team that the game should be replayed.If Domenech had relented, the FFF would have agreed to the Irish request and the FAI had been privately assured that FIFA would have allowed the game to take place and, in fact, they would have welcomed the chance to demonstrate that their commitment to fair play and integrity was more than just rhetoric."We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation," said chief executive, John Delaney.But Domenech -- once seen as Ireland's best chance -- was the chief obstacle. The players are understood to have been confident they could beat Ireland in a replay and remove the sense they had qualified unfairly for next summer's tournament. Domenech saw it differently, however, holding privately to his public view that there was no need to commit "hara-kiri" and allow a replay.The FAI believed that the game would have attraction a global audience and influential figures in FIFA also held this view, seeing it as a way to restore the reputation of the game. Yet they could not act unless the FFF agreed as FIFA would not overturn a decision -- or non-decision -- made by a referee.
Sunday November 22 2009
Raymond Domenech was the sole obstacle to Ireland's game against France being replayed, the Sunday Independent has learned.
Domenech refused to allow the French Football Federation to agree to a replay of France's game against Ireland despite the overwhelming backing of the French squad, the French public and key figures within the federation.
The FAI yesterday conceded that there was no chance of a replay following the statement from the FFF on Friday night. Yet it has emerged that the French were close to agreeing but Domenech, who would have been fired if France had been eliminated last Wednesday, insisted there should be no second chance for Ireland.
During several discussions on Friday, Domenech would not back down despite the increased pressure following the statements from Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger, who both called for the game to take place again, probably on Wednesday week.
The French public were overwhelming in favour of the game being replayed but the views of the French squad were even more influential and on Thursday night and Friday morning the feeling grew within the team that the game should be replayed.
If Domenech had relented, the FFF would have agreed to the Irish request and the FAI had been privately assured that FIFA would have allowed the game to take place and, in fact, they would have welcomed the chance to demonstrate that their commitment to fair play and integrity was more than just rhetoric.
"We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a world-wide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation," said chief executive, John Delaney.
But Domenech -- once seen as Ireland's best chance -- was the chief obstacle. The players are understood to have been confident they could beat Ireland in a replay and remove the sense they had qualified unfairly for next summer's tournament.
Domenech saw it differently, however, holding privately to his public view that there was no need to commit "hara-kiri" and allow a replay.
The FAI believed that the game would have attraction a global audience and influential figures in FIFA also held this view, seeing it as a way to restore the reputation of the game. Yet they could not act unless the FFF agreed as FIFA would not overturn a decision -- or non-decision -- made by a referee.
This guy is an absolute disgrace. He's the main reason why France had to go through those two games, the main reason why they struggled in them, but he will cling to his high paying gig by any means possible, though never doing anything useful in it.
Now, of course I don't know whether that report is true, but if it is it should be reason enough to sack him. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi
Personally I would be astounded if any football team manager, however (un)popular, had the power to make or block that decision. If the French FA wanted the match to be replayed, it would have been, Domenech or no Domenech. notes from no w here
