Reds make Fletcher plea
Darren Fletcher's last hope of playing in the Champions League Final will be dashed by UEFA. United yesterday confirmed they had appealed against Fletcher's red card in Tuesday's semi-final win at Arsenal. They have written to European football's governing body asking them to review Italian referee Roberto Rosetti's blunder in dismissing United's Scotland midfielder. Uefa sympathise with Fletcher's plight, but insist they cannot clear him to face Barcelona in Rome on May 27. "They are able to protest and it's up to them to decide on the basis of the protest," said a UEFA spokesman. "It will then go to our control and disciplinary body to look at and decide whether the protest is admissible and if it is, whether it is accepted or rejected. The chances of an appeal being successful are quite slim because a protest is only admissible on the grounds of mistaken identity and that's not the case in this instance."
David Anderson, Daily Mirror
Dimitar Berbatov has turned up the heat on Barcelona by telling them most teams are scared of United. Barca's Leo Messi reckons the side that wins in Rome will also be able to claim the unofficial title of being the world’s best team.
Ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, City midfielder Vincent Kompany says the Blues will not be intimidated by Sir Alex's all-conquering side, claiming: "They are just another Manchester team like we are."
Round up by Gemma Thompson
Darren Fletcher's last hope of playing in the Champions League Final will be dashed by UEFA. United yesterday confirmed they had appealed against Fletcher's red card in Tuesday's semi-final win at Arsenal. They have written to European football's governing body asking them to review Italian referee Roberto Rosetti's blunder in dismissing United's Scotland midfielder. Uefa sympathise with Fletcher's plight, but insist they cannot clear him to face Barcelona in Rome on May 27. "They are able to protest and it's up to them to decide on the basis of the protest," said a UEFA spokesman. "It will then go to our control and disciplinary body to look at and decide whether the protest is admissible and if it is, whether it is accepted or rejected. The chances of an appeal being successful are quite slim because a protest is only admissible on the grounds of mistaken identity and that's not the case in this instance."
David Anderson, Daily Mirror
Dimitar Berbatov has turned up the heat on Barcelona by telling them most teams are scared of United. Barca's Leo Messi reckons the side that wins in Rome will also be able to claim the unofficial title of being the world’s best team.
Ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, City midfielder Vincent Kompany says the Blues will not be intimidated by Sir Alex's all-conquering side, claiming: "They are just another Manchester team like we are."
Round up by Gemma Thompson
