Tardelli continues long-running dispute with Domenech

IRELAND’S assistant coach Marco Tardelli has kept his long-running row with France boss Raymond Domenech simmering after refusing to forgive the Frenchman for accusing his opposite number of buying the referee in an U21 match 10 years ago.

Domenech was suspended for one match and fined €6,000 for his outspoken comments before France’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy in August 2007.

At the time, he told Le Parisien: “I have experienced a France-Italy game in the U21s, a qualifier for the Sydney Olympics, with a bought referee. Rarely have I been so ripped off. When it happens to you once, you worry it might happen again.”

Domenech was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and Tardelli, who was coaching Italy’s U21 side at the time, has still not forgiven the outspoken French boss.

“It’s very bad to take away the merit of victory from players who gave everything,” he said. “This qualification in 1999 remains a wonderful memory.”

That game, which ended in a 2-1 win for Italy after extra-time, was played in November 1999 and sealed Italy’s qualification for the Olympics. France missed out.

At the time of Domenech’s outburst, Tardelli was even more furious and was quoted as saying: “Every now and then Domenech says something really stupid. Perhaps instead we should ask why he didn’t win more with the formidable U21 squads he had at his disposal. He never won anything. So these are the idiotic statements of a loser.”

And after this week’s World Cup play-off draw pitted the two rivals together, Tardelli made it clear he was in no mood for forgiveness.

He even refused to commit to shaking Domenech’s hand before the game. “I am (Giovanni) Trapattoni’s assistant, it’s up to the coaches to greet each other,” he said. “It’s up to Domenech to come and shake Trapattoni’s hand.”

Tardelli went on to admit he was hoping to avoid facing France, and was disappointed that the second leg will be in Paris and not Dublin.

“France is a team I did not want to play against,” he added.

“I don’t understand why there are seeds in the draw. We’re unlucky because we’re up against France and away in the return match. France is the only seeded team playing at home the return leg.’’

And though Tardelli bemoaned the away second-leg advantage, Domenech spoke of his fear Irish fans would come to the Stade de France in greater numbers than the home fans as they did in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

“We need to have a real mobilisation,” he said.

“The French have to hurry and get the tickets so that the Irish don’t buy them all, that would be a first victory.

“It’s not an advantage to play at home in the second leg if it’s to play at home with a stadium with 30,000 Irishmen in it like in 2004.

“This match will be a real battle, our fans have to get behind the French team. We can’t have it so that the Irish have more seats than they are allocated.”