No Chance for Darren Fletcher Appeal
Filed under: Champions League, FIFA, Manchester United, Red Cards, UEFA
Even though the decision to send Darren Fletcher off in yesterday’s Champions League semi-final seemed incredibly harsh, UEFA is saying that there is no chance of the red card being overturned.
“Manchester United have the right to file a protest within 24 hours of the match however a protest against a caution or sending off is only admissible if the referee’s error was to mistake the identity of the player.”
A UEFA source added: “It opens Pandora’s box if you can challenge every decision. And if you rule that it is not a red card, then you are also saying it is not a penalty, and therefore not a goal, and what do you do then - start changing the results of matches afterwards?”
I can understand that officials from UEFA and FIFA don’t want something like this to get out of control and have every red and yellow card to get called into question, but when the referee is that wrong it seems that should be someway to appeal a sending off.
agreed. he obviously touched the ball BEFORE Flopregas went down. I was watching it on ESPN360 and the gamecase on the soccernet page; the commentator said something along the lines of ‘ His name is Roberti Rosetti and pray he doesnt call a game involving your team’
Replays help it a lot, but in live action it didn’t look as clear cut. Ultimately Fletcher shouldn’t have tried to make that kinda play under the circumstances.
Why shouldnt he? He was trying to prevent a goal. Im all for it…in a match as important as that, who cares how many youre up. It isnt over until the final whistle
In some sense I agree, you never stop playing, but that is the risk you take. He ulimately made a tough play, but without the replay its a hard call to make, especially in a lopsided match. It’s hard to be that quick in your head, but gotta way the consequences for the effort that late in the match.