Lille to continue Man Utd protest

zocoss SG

Lille have confirmed they will continue their appeal against Uefa's decision to allow Manchester United's goal to stand in their stormy Champions League clash. The French club lodged a complaint over Ryan Giggs's quickly taken free-kick but it was rejected by Uefa. The European governing body will consider their appeal on Friday.

Uefa has also charged Lille with the improper behaviour of their players, who appeared to contemplate leaving the pitch in protest at United's goal. A Uefa statement said: "Lille had until midnight [on Monday] to file an appeal after the Control and Disciplinary Body rejected the Ligue 1 side's claim that there had been a technical mistake by the referee in allowing Ryan Giggs's match-winning free-kick to be taken without having blown his whistle.

"The Control and Disciplinary Body vetoed the protest on the grounds that there was no proof of a technical error, making the solitary strike of last Tuesday's first knockout round first-leg tie in Lens perfectly valid. "Uefa's Appeals Body will consider the Lille appeal on Friday."

A statement released on Lille's website said: "President Michel Seydoux and the board of Lille have decided to appeal against the decision made on Friday by the European authority. "The true question is to determine how the Man Utd players came to take so quickly the free-kick that led to the goal, as they showed signs of a different intention.

"Following these principles, Lille have therefore taken the decision to go through with a fight that seems correct to them." Giggs's strike was the only goal of the first leg of the last 16 tie, with the second leg taking place on Wednesday 7 March.

the Bear SG

continue simi sai??

they bloody got caught with their pants down still want to protest Laughing

hiphop2009 SG

knn dey enough or nt..

i look down on french football from now!

zocoss SG

At least Lyon is not like that lah... They are more like a professional club and knows how to behave at big event. Mr. Green

turbo_drift SG

Lillie’s players become children where they can be taught on how to behave..

hisoka SG

are lille and thailand teams related/affiliated?

used SG

now going to appeal for the second time! WTF?! just get on and move on with it!

allentyb SG

Long Live Lille, i hope you win the appeal Embarassed

a-Lost-9uY SG

waaa they're damn losers leh..
wads done is done..
learn from mistake n move on..

CoolMyth SG

There comes a time where people know you are right in appealing and there comes a time where people just want to laugh at you. Laughing

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

nvr give up Laughing

zocoss SG

BLATTER FURY OVER UNITED STADIUM SCARE

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has blasted the decision to use Lens' stadium as the venue for Manchester United's Champions League match against Lille.

United believe a catastrophe was only narrowly averted after fans became crushed against metal fences in a section of the ground during last week's knockout match.

Blatter said: "I cannot understand that those who organise the Champions League accept a stadium like Lens to play such a match.

"In Lens, there are fences still, and it should not be permitted to play Champions League matches in such a stadium."

Blatter added that since the Hillsborough disaster Britain had set a great example by removing fences and using all-seater stadia.

He said: "It should be an example for everywhere else in the world. There is comfort and security in the stadia where everyone is seated and you have no fences.

"If this was applied to all the other big leagues some would not face the problems they are facing now."

zocoss SG

FRENCH FURY OVER BLATTER STADIUM COMMENTS

The row over Manchester United's controversial Champions League match with Lille continued to simmer today with FIFA president Sepp Blatter coming under fire for his criticism of the stadium.

Blatter said the Stade Felix-Bollaert in Lens, where United fans were crushed against metal fences last week, should not have been used for a Champions League game.

Lens president Gervais Martel said: "This position is scandalous. A number of European matches have been organised at the Bollaert since 1998. "Our enclosure fits perfectly with the UEFA regulations and there has never been the slightest incident until English supporters provoked one with fake tickets.

"I am going to immediately send a letter to UEFA president Michel Platini, as well as to Sepp Blatter, to ask him for his explanations and to invite him to Lens. "It is irresponsible on his part to make such remarks." Lille are blaming United for last week's crowd problems, claiming their early distribution of tickets allowed high-quality fakes to be produced.

Blatter said yesterday: "I cannot understand that those who organise the Champions League accept a stadium like Lens to play such a match.
"In Lens, there are fences still, and it should not be permitted to play Champions League matches in such a stadium."

Meanwhile, UEFA are likely to tomorrow reject an appeal against their decision to allow Ryan Giggs' goal in the 1-0 win for United to stand. Lille claim the quickly-taken free-kick should not have been allowed to stand but UEFA rejected their protest last week, saying it had been entirely within the laws of the game.

used SG

lille are obvously seeking pity from platini who is french

zocoss SG

PROOF STEWARD LOCKED GATE

THESE terrifying images will form part of Manchester United's damning dossier of evidence of their fans' Champions League horror. United have given us exclusive access to their secret files, which feature disturbing mobile phone pictures and video footage plus eyewitness accounts from more than 400 fans.

United will hand UEFA their evidence of the chain of events which led to the crush during Tuesday's 1-0 win over Lille in Lens.

And United insist:

Security gates were CHAINED shut by stewards to stop supporters escaping the crush.

Fans trying to flee the chaos were SPRAYED with tear gas. Other fans were ATTACKED by riot police with dogs.

Panic-stricken women and children were THROWN back into the over-crowded stand.

The Premiership leaders are also DEMANDING TV footage from French host broadcasters Canal Plus and ITV and have received e-mails from disgusted ARSENAL fans who endured similar problems with French police when they travelled to Lens.

Fergie said: "Obviously I was concerned, I think everyone would have been, except perhaps the French police. "It was a real concern but the club are dealing with that now. They have been speaking to our fans and there are plenty of eyewitness reports. Hopefully, we can put the matter to rest and UEFA will deal with it in the right way."

United fan Mark Harrison, 27, passed on his mobile phone video footage to the club. He said: "My worst memory was seeing a young girl clinging to the 10ft-high fence at the front of the United section. "She couldn't have been more than 15 and was terrified and crying. She wanted to get out. "What did the police do? They sprayed tear gas in her face. I've never seen anything like it.

HORROR: Stewards go to lock gate

NO ESCAPE: Chain is put in place

TERROR: Fans caught in the crush

zocoss SG

UEFA TURN DOWN LILLE'S GIGGS APPEAL

UEFA have rejected Lille's attempts to invalidate Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs' winning goal in their Champions League match. The French side lost 1-0 to a late, quickly-taken free-kick in Lens last week but the club appealed to UEFA, claiming there had been a technical error by the referee in allowing the Wales winger to convert the set-piece without blowing his whistle.

UEFA's control and disciplinary body previously vetoed the claim and that decision has been ratified by the UEFA's appeals body.

"The appeals body supported the original decision that there was no proof of a technical error, and validated the result in Lens, a 1-0 victory to the English club," said a statement on UEFA's official website.

"Lille will have the possibility of making a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within three days of receiving notification of the UEFA appeals body's ruling."