Uefa chief hints at Fletcher red-card reprieve

Darren Fletcher's Champions League final suspension could be overturned after talks between Sir Alex Ferguson and top Uefa official David Taylor.

Manchester United midfielder Fletcher was dismissed late on in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final win over Arsenal for a professional foul on Cesc Fabregas.

Replays showed Fletcher played the ball but Uefa confirmed yesterday 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 on May 27, but Taylor has hinted at a reprieve for the Scotland international.

'I have spoken with Alex Ferguson personally on this - as fate would have it we shared a car after the match,' revealed the Uefa general secretary.

'We were rather thrown together but had an interesting discussion.

'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 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.'