United accept Fletcher's fate

Red Devils set to be without midfielder for Champions League final

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 11th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

United accept Fletcher's fate

Fletcher: Seeing red against Arsenal

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Manchester United will not be appealing Uefa's decision to uphold Darren Fletcher's European suspension.

The Scotland international is set to sit out the UEFA Champions League final as a result of his sending off during a semi-final, second-leg victory at Arsenal.

That decision was widely lambasted, with Fletcher seeming to get a toe to the ball before sending Gunners ace Cesc Fabregas sprawling in the box.

United decided to appeal the red card in an effort to clear his name and allow him the opportunity to face Barcelona in Rome on 27th May.

However, Uefa has stood by the original decision and United have been informed that there is little point in launching another bid to have the ruling overturned.

The Red Devils have, therefore, reluctantly accepted Fletcher's fate.

Honest

A United spokesman said on Monday: "Darren is an honest player and we felt we should do what we could to try and help him become eligible for the Champions League final by initially protesting his dismissal.

"However, we respect the referee's decision and we will therefore not be appealing against today's ruling."

Barcelona will also be depleted in Rome, with Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal set to miss out through suspension.

The Catalan giants appealed to Uefa in an effort to have the duo available for continental competition but, like United, they too have been knocked back.

A Uefa statement said: "Even if they had been admitted they would have been rejected as unfounded as there were no grounds for contesting the referees' original decisions."