UEFA yesterday ordered Moscow Spartak and Sion to replay their UEFA Cup first-round, second-leg match. Sion protested after their 2-2 draw in Moscow on Wednesday, which led to a 3-2 aggregate defeat, saying the crossbars on both goals at the Russian club's stadium were too low.
The Swiss club informed French referee Claude Colombo just before the kick-off that both goals were 12 cm too low, UEFA said. "Nonetheless, for reasons of security, the referee decided to let the match proceed," UEFA said.
The match must be replayed in Moscow before October 15th and Spartak Moscow vice-president Gennady Znaevskky said his club accepted the ruling. Sion, however, plan to appeal against the ruling.
The Swiss club maintain that article 6 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations stipulate that the only sanctions available were either to award the match 3-0 to FC Sion or to qualify the club automatically for the next round. They have said they will refuse to replay the contest.
The eventual winners will play Real Valladolid in the second round of the competition.
Faustino Asprilla will be out for between one and two months after groin surgery.
Asprilla was carried off during Newcastle's 2-2 European Champions' League draw with Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine on Wednesday after collapsing in the 22nd minute.
Sheffield United have handed Paul McGrath a one-year contract following a string of impressive displays by the 37-year-old. The former Republic of Ireland star moved to Sheffield United from Derby County on a month-to-month deal.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)