Domenech faces UEFA hearing over controversial remarks

PARIS, Aug 16 (Reuters) France coach Raymond Domenech confirmed today he faced a hearing by UEFA over controversial comments about refereeing he made in a newspaper interview last week.

In an interview with French daily Le Parisien, Domenech had accused Italy of bribing the referee of an Under-21 international between France and Italy during the qualification campaign for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

UEFA president Michel Platini said Domenech should provide evidence to back up his allegations or face sanctions.

''UEFA have asked for an inquiry,'' Domenech told a news conference today. ''I'll go there willingly.'' Domenech declined to say when the hearing would take place.

''I will write to the committee investigating what there was in the interview with Le Parisien and I will answer all the questions raised by this article,'' he said.

Domenech had also, in the interview with Le Parisien, praised Italy defender Marco Materazzi for provoking Zinedine Zidane into headbutting him in last year's World Cup final. Zidane was sent off and France lost on penalties.

France visit Italy for a Euro 2008 qualifier on Sept. 8.

Domenech also told Le Parisien he had doubts about the refereeing of the upcoming qualifier between the two rivals.

''I'm not the one who has invented the stories about refereeing in Italy,'' Domenech said. ''Some matches have been fixed.'' Italy's match-fixing scandal, which led to Juventus being demoted last year and four clubs having points deducted, centred on teams trying to secure favourable referees for matches.

REUTERS BJR RN2040