UEFA general secretary David Taylor has revealed
an avenue of appeal could be open to Manchester United over Darren
Fletcher's red card.
The Scotland international was dismissed late on in
Tuesday's Champions League semi-final win over Arsenal for a
professional foul on Cesc Fabregas.
Replays showed Fletcher had in fact played the ball but UEFA
confirmed on Wednesday that United do not have the right to appeal
against the referee's decision.
As things stand Fletcher will sit out the final against
Barcelona in Rome later this month but Taylor has hinted at a
reprieve for the combative midfielder.
"I have spoken with Alex Ferguson personally on this - as fate
would have it we shared a car after the match. We were rather
thrown together but had an interesting discussion," Taylor told The
Sun.
"He was very fair about the referee and what had happened but
equally he was very disappointed for Darren, as are we all.
"I tried to give Alex as much advice as I could with regards the
procedure in these circumstances.
"There is no formal process. But if the club want to write to us
with information - such as video evidence - explaining why they
think this is a harsh punishment then they can do that.
"The likelihood is that we'd then refer the matter to our
disciplinary body.
"They would then look to see if there were any special
circumstances to justify any departure from established
procedures.
"I must stress there is normally no way these matters can be
overturned."
Fletcher's hopes could hang on referee Roberto Rosetti admitting
to his apparent error in his match report, but Taylor concedes such
an admission may not be enough to reverse the red card.
"The ref may take the view a mistake has been made and include
that in his report but that wouldn't be in any way decisive," he
continued.
"It's an entirely discretionary thing, whether or not the
committee feels there is reason to intervene.
"That's the position. Strictly speaking there's no appeal
process but representation can be made and looked at."
