Talk about Friends in high places.
UEFA'S replay shocker
By PAUL JIGGINS
MANCHESTER UNITED could be forced to replay the controversial
Champions League clash against Lille.
UEFA announced last night they are to hold separate investigations
into the on and off-field incidents that marred Tuesdays tie in
Lens.
The French made a formal complaint about ref Eric Braamhaar, who
allowed Ryan Giggs to score the winner with a quickly-taken
free-kick.
UEFAs French president Michel Platini is known for his
anti-English views and there are fears he will uphold his
countrymens complaint at tomorrows meeting.
Lille president Michel Seydoux said he will be complaining directly
to Platini.
Seydoux said: I will call Michel Platini, who says he defends the
beautiful game and the little teams.
We have developed a beautiful game and we are a little
team.
Amazingly, a separate investigation into the crowd control problems
will not be heard until March 22.
Several United fans were injured in a crush that brought back
memories of the Hillsborough disaster.
Dozens of fans tried to climb a 10ft-high security fence in Lens to
escape the crush.
But French police then over-reacted by spraying the supporters with
teargas as they tried to escape the danger.
UEFA will not, however, discuss the incident until two weeks after
the second leg at Old Trafford.
A UEFA spokesman said: The reason for the two dates is because a
protest against a technical error could mean the match being
replayed, if the protest was upheld. So the question over the goal
would have to be decided way earlier than March 22, since the
return leg is due to take place in two weeks time.
Bottomline, as long as its French, it is good..
