PARIS (AFP) - Arsene Wenger believes France manager Raymond Domenech was wrong to suggest Italy had rigged an Under-21 match by buying off the referee.

In a newspaper interview in August Domenech alluded to a "referee being bought" during the tie between the junior France team which he managed at the time.

Domenech's appeal against the one day ban UEFA imposed on him for alleging the 1999 game against France was fixed takes place on Tuesday, four days before France face the World Cup winners in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Milan.

UEFA imposed the punishment after finding Domenech guilty of "discrediting football".

Asked for his view on the storm stirred up by his fellow countryman Wenger told RMC radio: "Personally I didn't appreciate it. I believe managers have a form of responsibility to calm things down before matches."

The Arsenal manager added: "I don't think he (Domenech) was right."

Domenech will be joined at Tuesday's appeal by Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French Football Federation.

The outspoken French coach, whose remarks triggered a storm of protest in Italy, has said he is keen to back up his comments with evidence and is looking forward to Tuesday's hearing.

"I've even bought a tie," he told a press conference recently.