Uefa has confirmed their disciplinary body will meet on Monday to discuss Manchester United's appeal against the red card issued to Darren Fletcher in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
Usually, the only grounds for appeal are in a case of mistaken identity, which is not an issue with Fletcher, but United requested the red card, which rules the Scot out of the May 27th final against Barcelona, be rescinded on compassionate grounds.
"Uefa has ... received a submission from Manchester United FC concerning the red card shown to the club's player Darren Fletcher in the Uefa Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal FC in London on Tuesday,” read a UEFA statement issued on Friday.
“The Uefa Control and Disciplinary Body will meet on Monday to deal with this case.”
Fletcher was sent off for what looked a fair challenge on Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas late in United's 3-1 win at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson does not expect to be successful.
"We understand the system and honestly believe the referee made the right decision at the time. From his angle and from where I was, I thought it was a penalty myself,” Ferguson said today.
"But we're not optimistic at all. We have to do it for Darren and in fairness to Darren. But, sometimes, in these situations when everything is addressed, you never know.
"He's quite a placid lad, he's not an emotional boy, he accepts it although it's disappointing for him, obviously. He takes great credit for the way he handled it all."
A Uefa spokesman was quoted in the media today as saying: "The chances of an appeal being successful are quite slim because a protest is only admissible on the grounds of mistaken identity and that is not the case in this instance.
"The referee made it clear in his report that the red card was for denying a goalscoring opportunity. That was a factual decision by the referee and you cannot change factual decisions by the referee."
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal was also sent off in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea that saw the Catalan club progress on their away goal, but the Spanish giants have not yet appealed what looked a contentious decision, according to Uefa.
"No protest has been received with respect to the red card shown to FC Barcelona player Eric Abidal," a statement confirmed this morning.
As it stands, Barcelona will contest the Rome final without Abidal and Daniel Alves, whose yellow card on Wednesday earned him a suspension as well.
Agencies
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