UEFA agree to hear Domenech appeal a day early

France coach Raymond Domenech's appeal against a one-match ban will be heard on September 4 -- four days before Les Bleus face World Cup final rivals Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifying clash.

France coach Raymond Domenech's appeal against a one-match ban will be heard on September 4, four days before Les Bleus face World Cup final rivals Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifying clash.

Domenech on Thursday appealed against the ban and a 10,000 Swiss Francs (8,000 dollars) fine, handed out by UEFA for bringing the game into disrepute.

European football's ruling body on Friday agreed, following a request by the French Football Federation (FFF), to bring the appeal date forward by a day to Tuesday because of the looming Italy clash.

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. Domenech was coach of the junior French team at the time.

A suspended coach is banned from the touchline and the dressing rooms during a match but can watch as a spectator in the stadium and give instructions by mobile telephone.