Champions League - UEFA: Fletcher red stands

Eurosport - Wed, 06 May 13:44:00 2009

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will miss the Champions League final in Rome later this month after UEFA said there was no chance of overturning the red card he received against Arsenal.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Champions League Manchester United's Darren Fletcher is sent off against Arsenal by referee Roberto Rosetti - 0

Fletcher had a superb game as United demolished Arsenal 3-1 in the second leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, but was sent off by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti for a 75th-minute challenge on Cesc Fabregas.

UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner told Reuters while United had the right to protest the decision, there was nothing in UEFA's rules that would allow Fletcher to escape the ban.

Faulkner said: "Manchester United have the right to protest the decision within 24 hours of the match.

"However the protest is only admissible if the referee made an error and mistakenly identified and cautioned or sent off the wrong player.

"There cannot be an appeal against a factual decision taken by the referee, and there is nothing to indicate that the referee made a mistake in identifying Fletcher as the player he penalised last night."

Even if Rosetti was to admit his decision was wrong, the red card would still stand under article 44.4 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, which only allows red cards to be rescinded for cases of mistaken identity.

Television replays showed the 25-year-old Scottish international, had his eyes focused on the ball, which he played before colliding with Arsenal skipper Fabregas.

Rosetti, however, judged Fletcher had denied Fabregas a goal-scoring opportunity and that he had no alternative but to award Arsenal a penalty and send the Manchester United man off.

Fletcher was an unused substitute when Manchester United beat Chelsea in last year's final in Moscow but manager Alex Ferguson said after Tuesday's match he would probably have featured in the final in Rome on May 27.

"You can see from his performance tonight, he's been a key player for us in all of our big games this season. I couldn't tell you whether he would have definitely played in the final but you would have thought that Darren would have figured largely."

Ferguson said he had not spoken to the referee after the match.

"He may look at himself without anyone asking, but I don't think we should ask him. He's competent and fair enough to look at it himself.

"Apparently we cannot appeal and if that's the case that's really disappointing."

Fletcher's sending off aside, United enjoyed a glorious night at the Emirates, sweeping into a 2-0 lead with goals from Park Ji-sung and Cristiano Ronaldo after 11 minutes to all-but kill off Arsenal, who at that stage were trailing 3-0 on aggregate.

They made it 3-0 with a sweeping counter-attacking goal converted by Ronaldo midway through the second half and while Robin Van Persie converted the penalty after Fletcher's dismissal to make it 3-1, the night belonged to United.

The Manchester side now have the chance to become the first club since the Champions League started in 1992-93 to retain the title.

Reuters

Comment 370 - 389 of 389

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  1. tough on fletcher, a blind man could see he got the­ ball.

    From TEVEZ, on Thu 7 May 9:11AM

  2. FLETCH WAS ROBBED BY THE REF HE PLAYED BRILL ALL NIGHT­ AND SHOULD BE IN FINAL. IT GOES TO SHOW WHO IS THE BEST­ TEAM IN ENGLAND MAN UTD THE CHAMPS AND IN THE FINAL TO­ WIN IT AGAIN I AM SORRY FOR ALL YOU MAN UTD HATERS BUT­ IT JUST GOES TO SHOW WHO REALY IS THE BEST DONT IT 4­ CUPS THIS YEAR COME ON YOU REDS­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From kellystyz, on Thu 7 May 8:57AM

  3. What more could one expect from the (very well paid)­ donkeys who control our game.
    They are not in the real­ world, they have no respect for the people who pay­ their inflated salaries (THE PLAYERS AND FANS) they­ travel the world via first class, life a life of­ luxury, yet still cant make simple rights to so many­ wrongs over a season.
    They are disgusting people,­ always on about the behavior of players and carry a­ motto of FAIR PLAY, yet the same people are morally­ bankrupt as far as ethics are concerned.

    From , on Thu 7 May 6:06AM

  4. we do feel sorry for Drogba and Chelsea...but Drogba­ got no right to make such comments to the ref and in­ front of the camera...and if he's such a great­ player,he could have score 2 to 3 goals in this­ game.But he just felt on the ground and kiss the­ grass.The ref-no comment.

    From seandadinhobomb, on Thu 7 May 5:15AM

  5. @ lai y, if Drogba is a monkey what that does that make­ you an idiot with no sporting sense because it's­ only human for anyone to feel like that but calling him­ a money would only be coming from someone of your­ calibre ............a fool. think before you right nxt­ time don't just put your foot in it.

    From dale o, on Thu 7 May 4:58AM

  6. Fletcher will be the Paul Scholes in the­ future...Drogba should ban for 1 season of European­ football..he's a monkey

    From lai y, on Thu 7 May 4:18AM

  7. uefa MAFIA,MAFIA

    From barlowjane66, on Thu 7 May 12:09AM

  8. Fletcher is scotlands only class player in my view­ thefore the only scot in a top 4 club in england i do­ not say world class but he has a way to go yet but he­ is a class class player , and i fear he will end up­ like giggs and never go to a world cup or euro

    also­ we all know about tackles from the back in europe fine­ well if it was in the u.k ref it would not have­ mattered so much, he got the ball 1st
    i think it is­ unfair but we do know this
    i think it because you dont­ wear shinpads on the back your legs but think if you do­ not touch them and get the ball 1ST what should that­ matter

    this has also showed uefa shortfallings in­ overturning decsions we must make an effort to change­ this so it does not happen again if it is an unfair­ decsion because in effect uefa are saying the refs are­ perfect, this is not the case and refs have only one­ look at things that happen we have tons , but if­ something is wrong we fifa must double take on it

    From , on Thu 7 May 12:04AM

  9. Well done UEFA you have just thrown the integrity of­ the sport down the f***ing toilet

    From Peter, on Wed 6 May 11:18PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    fletcher is only in the team because he's scottish,­ let's face it if he were english fergie­ wouldn't even have him in the training set up.­ united will be a better team without him. they'll­ need pace and experience to beat barca, something they­ have in abundance, not idiots making unnessessarily­ foolish challenges. utd for four

    From N, on Wed 6 May 11:11PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Barca 8-0utd

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Wed 6 May 10:44PM

  12. I ddont undersatnd justice in football. They admit they­ get it wrong,but then the victim still gets to serve­ the punishment. What the F*** is that?

    From Human Nature, on Wed 6 May 10:39PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Barca is comming to take u down, all Man U fans are­ losers

    From buddyfar, on Wed 6 May 10:34PM

  14. Damn ugly and missing a final! No luck!

    From D, on Wed 6 May 10:30PM

  15. We All Now Know What U E F A Stands For.....­ "" UNFIT EVER FOR ADJUDICATION " ­ Why Can't Soccer

    Utilise Modern Technology and­ Cut Out The Human Referee Errors. Does It Have To Stay­ In The Dark Ages ?

    From Village Guru, on Wed 6 May 10:28PM

  16. So Fletcher denied Fabregas a goal scoring opportunity,­ says UEFA. But Fletcher played the ball. By UEFA­ reasoning, then, any defender who is skillful enough to­ get to the ball should be sent off. So too should any­ goal-keeper who saves a penalty, because he has denied­ the Fabregases of the world a goal-scoring opportunity.­
    The referee made a mistake and the rules do not allow­ him to reverse his decision. It is very tough on­ Fletcher, but that is how things are. However,­ don't let the incompetent, little Hitlers in UEFA­ try to justify their stupid decisions. They may be­ ignorant but the rest of us aren't.

    From ferrij, on Wed 6 May 10:00PM

  17. Has any of the journalists and people complaining about­ bad referees ever read the rules ??
    Hand ball ?
    A­ direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team­ if a player (...) handles the ball DELIBERATELY (except­ for the goalkeeper within his
    own penalty area) A­ direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a­ player commits
    any of the following seven offences in a­ manner considered by the
    referee to be careless,­ reckless or using excessive force:
    (...)
    • pushes an­ opponent
    • tackles an opponent

    No need to say more.

    From hempy, on Wed 6 May 9:58PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Over 400 messages on here of bleeting MUFC fans,­ you'd think they lost. Shows just how deluded they­ are.

    From Paul, on Wed 6 May 9:53PM

  19. i counted 2 clear penalties for chelsea,and i was for­ barca all the way,i'm always against cheaters like­ drogba,but he has a perfectly honest claim to a very­ clear penalty on his favour,then the hand that stopped­ the ball from anelka.Very sad.Just like Arsenal last­ year against Liverpool. Now i think Man U is getting­ it,as all this has cost too much for barca as­ they've lost players that count what with the­ red,the double yellow and the injured Henry..unless...

    From coolworld, on Wed 6 May 9:51PM

  20. arrrrrrrrrrrhhhhh what a pity how @#$% is it when the­ ref makes a bad decision thats karma in my book stop­ bleeting and get on with it

    From abbeydoodle09, on Wed 6 May 9:35PM
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