SOCCER:ONE OF the most embarrassing episodes in French football history appeared to have finally drawn to a close yesterday when former national coach Raymond Domenech settled his claim for unfair dismissal with the French Football Federation (FFF) for close to €1 million.

Domenech’s contract as French manager ended after a disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa last summer but he was also fired from his role as a technical advisor at the FFF for “serious misconduct”.

The reasons for his sacking included not being fully forthcoming about the circumstances in which Nicolas Anelka was sent home from South Africa – after the striker had clashed with Domenech – and for reading out a letter on behalf of the players which explained why they were boycotting a subsequent training session.

In response to his dismissal, Domenech submitted a case to a Paris employment tribunal last November, seeking €2.9 million in compensation. His lawyers said he had been a loyal employee for 17 years and that he was sacked in a way that gravely affected his chances of future employment.

The case risked further tarnishing the image of French football after the players’ strike at the World Cup and a more recent race row concerning the way teenagers are selected for national youth academies. However, under the terms of an agreement announced by FFF president Noel Le Graet yesterday, Domenech will receive €575,000 in recognition for the time he served at the federation and an additional €400,000 in damages linked to his dismissal.

Le Graet, who was elected president on June 18th, moved quickly to settle the case – conscious it had the potential to drag on after the next scheduled court sitting in January. “The Domenech case is over,” Le Graet said after the deal was ratified by the FFF’s executive committee in Paris yesterday. “He also gave up his entitlement to €150,000 in bonus payments.

“It’s an excellent decision for the federation and I’m very happy with this agreement. This case started very badly for the federation and this puts an end to a discussion that could have lasted for two or three years.”

Domenech, who led France to the 2006 World Cup final, saw his reign end in humiliating fashion when Les Bleus were knocked out of last summer’s competition at the group stage. Up until recently the 59-year-old had kept a relatively low profile, signing on for jobseeker’s allowance and helping out with a local under-11 side.

No stranger to pantomime as French boss, Domenech took a lead role in an advert for an online poker tournament in November and in February he criticised his former players for behaving like “a bunch of thoughtless brats” in South Africa.

Last month the former Lyon manager began appearing in a reality TV show called The Stuff of Champions. The programme, which sees Domenech and other ex-professionals coach contestants who are tasked with completing various sporting activities, has not been a hit with viewers.

After attracting a market share of less than four per cent, the series will end on Wednesday – three weeks ahead of schedule.