Fletcher makes ref plea

Man United midfielder calls on official to show strength

Last updated: 2nd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fletcher makes ref plea

Fletcher: Has issued ref plea

SKY SPORTS ON SKY
There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.


Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Darren Fletcher has urged Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir to be strong during Scotland's clash with Lithuania.

Captain Fletcher was the victim of a blatant dive when the teams last met, with Saulius Mikoliunas unjustly winning a penalty at Hampden in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

With Scotland 1-0 up the then Hearts winger, who is in the Lithuania squad for Friday's clash in Kaunas, launched himself over Fletcher's outstretched leg, subsequently earning a two-match ban for his actions.

Scotland went on to win that match 3-1, but 26-year-old Fletcher admits he is wary about diving ahead of the opening European qualifier and is calling for officials to be on their guard.

Aware

"I think you're aware of it in most games, especially in international football," said Fletcher.

"It's a little bit of a different culture to what we expect or are used to in the British game.

"All you can hope for is that the referee is strong and gets the major decisions right.

"Things in midfield aren't really a concern but it's the major decisions you hope the referee gets right and is strong on the night. That's all you can ask for as a player."

Craig Levein starts his competitive career as Scotland manager against Lithuania and Manchester United midfielder Fletcher, who will win his 49th cap on Friday, believes the boss has turned the squad around since their 3-0 defeat in Sweden last month.

"I've been very impressed, he is a really experienced manager and definitely knows what he wants from his players," added Fletcher.

"He has made it very clear that the performance in Sweden wasn't acceptable.

"He expects certain standards from Scottish players, and they weren't reached in Sweden. So maybe that result was a timely reminder of getting back to basics and the manager stamping his authority on the team.

"The players seem to have responded this week, training has been very good, the tempo has been very good, the work rate has been very good. All you can ask for is that what you practise in training is taken into games."

Several experienced players return for Friday's qualifier, including 40-year-old David Weir, and Fletcher has nothing but respect for the Rangers defender, who will become Scotland's oldest player of all time.

Gentleman

"David is a role model to everyone in the squad, a real gentleman," he added.

"There is no better role model with the way he has lived his life, how he has prolonged his career.

"He is desperate to represent his country even at his age. I think age is just a number, people get carried away once you get over a certain age, that you are not capable of playing at this level.

"Maybe he is not as fast as he used to be, he has maybe lost a yard of pace in his legs but he has gained two yards in his head because his experience tells him where to be at the right time.

"Davie knows he is capable of playing at this level, we all know he's capable of playing at this level and he's a great experienced leader to have in the squad."