Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is not hopeful of
overturning the red card that rules Darren Fletcher out of the
Champions League final.
Fletcher was harshly dismissed in the win over Arsenal and Uefa
is to make a decision on Monday after United wrote to them on the
matter.
“I am not optimistic at all,” said Ferguson. “We have to do it
for Darren and sometimes, you never know.
“I don’t think it will be overturned. The referee made an honest
decision.”
Fletcher was sent off towards the end of the semi-final
second-leg victory over Arsenal for a challenge on Cesc Fabregas
that resulted in a penalty.
However, replays made it clear that the United player had in
fact made contact with the ball.
Ferguson said the decision was “a tragedy”, while Arsenal
manager Arsene Wenger admitted the call was “very harsh”, but
initially Uefa said there was no right of appeal unless the referee
made an error in identifying the player.
However, Uefa general secretary David Taylor gave the Old
Trafford outfit hope of contesting the decision and Fletcher being
available to play Barcelona on 27 May in Rome.
“The likelihood is we’d refer it to our disciplinary body,”
Taylor told BBC World Service. “They’d see if
there were circumstances to justify a departure from procedure.
“I must stress there is normally no way these matters can be
overturned.
Fletcher, 25, was an unused substitute in last season’s
Champions League final win on penalties over Chelsea and has played
an important part in helping his side reach the final.
He walked off without protest after being red-carded and
Ferguson has praised his reaction over a decision which is set to
see him miss out on the showpiece game.
“Darren is quite a placid lad,” said Ferguson.
“He is not an over-emotional boy. He just accepts it. He takes
great credit for the way he handled it.
“I honestly believed the referee made the right decision at the
time. From his angle – and from mine – it looked like a
penalty.
“It was only when I saw the replay that I saw that Darren had
managed to get his leg round Fabregas and flick the ball away.
“Darren is an honest player, so honest if he had been an old
stager he would probably have let him go on and score.
“But he was still determined to try and do his job and prevent a
goal. In the process he gave away a penalty.”
The Football Association uses videos to investigate decisions
and Ferguson believes the fact the Uefa does not is a flaw.
“It seems to be a weakness in Uefa that part,” he said.