UK Football

Manchester United are essentially begging UEFA to overturn the horrid red card decision that went against Darren Fletcher on Tuesday night.  Technically United have no medium in which to challenge a decision made by a referee concerning a red card, as according to UEFA rules the only way you can dispute a red card is in a case of mistaken identity, where the wrong player is sent off.  So despite the million replays that UEFA and the match official have seen at this point, showing Darren Fletcher clearly winning the ball before touching Cesc Fabregas, it looks like the Scot will have to sit out the Final.

And that’s an absolute travesty, considering what the Champions League is supposed to stand for.   Darren Fletcher never should have been shown a red card, Fabregas shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty, and United should have the right to dispute that point.  I understand UEFA’s stance, as it provides the referee respect knowing that all decisions made by him are absolutely final.  But this is exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson called the event after the match, “a tragedy”. 

Fletcher is the most improved United player this season, by far, and his dominance in midfield all season during United’s Champions League campaigns has been second to none.  If UEFA doesn’t allow a man who has played by the rules, and done it exceptionally well, and that has earned his spot in the Final as much as any other United player, I will lose all faith in their ability to govern European football.

Give Darren Fletcher his honor back, don’t punish him for a brilliant, and legal, physical tackle because your referee made a mistake.