Italian referee Roberto Rosetti had a fine match and can justify
in law the penalty he gave after Darren Fletcher brought down Cesc
Fabregas.
When commentators and former players say: ‘He got the ball, it
can’t be a foul,’ they are wrong.
Even though Fletcher got a slight touch on the ball, Rosetti
felt it was impossible for the Manchester United midfielder to
avoid taking his opponent in the follow-through. Therefore, he had
no option but to dismiss the Scot.
The United player stretches across Fabregas and gets
the merest touch on the ball as the Spaniard bursts through on
goal
In his follow through, Fletcher brings his opponent
crashing down (above and below)
Leaving ref Rosetti little choice but to give the
United man his marching orders
As for an appeal, UEFA do not entertain them except in cases of
mistaken identity.
They follow FIFA’s mandate that the referee’s decision is final
and any player shown a red card must serve a minimum one-match
suspension.
That match, unfortunately for Fletcher and United, is the
showpiece event of European club football.
