NYON, Switzerland, 24 February 2007 — UEFA yesterday rejected Lille’s protest about Manchester United’s controversial winning goal in their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Lille players initially seemed to storm off the pitch following Ryan Giggs’ 83rd-minute cheeky quick-free-kick goal while the French team were still lining up their defensive wall.
Lille came under heavy criticism for their players’ actions and UEFA said it would investigate, but the French club responded by making their own protest against the goal.
“The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has rejected a protest lodged by LOSC Lille Metropole following Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League first knockout round first-leg match against Manchester United FC in France,” said a UEFA statement.
Lille had claimed the referee made a technical mistake in allowing the free-kick to be taken without having blown his whistle beforehand and asked for the game to be replayed.
However, the appeal seems to have backfired with Lille’s players now facing an investigation following their protests which greeted the goal which gave United a 1-0 win.
“Having examined the official referee’s report, the television evidence at hand as well as the Laws of the Game, the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body decided to reject the protest, as there was no proof of a technical error,” continued the UEFA statement.
“As a result, the body declared that the goal was perfectly valid. Furthermore, the Control and Disciplinary Body decided to instigate proceedings against Lille for the improper behavior of their players immediately after the goal.” Lille can still appeal against UEFA’s decision and have until Monday to do so.
They received some good news, though, as a meeting to investigate the behavior of their players and security arrangements at the game will not take place until March 22, long after the second leg is played in Manchester, which at least rules out the possibility that Lille be thrown out of the competition.
UEFA announced on Wednesday that it was investigating possible violations of safety and security instructions by the host club, as well as the alleged improper conduct of both sets of supporters.
The match was played at the home of French league rivals Lens as Lille’s own stadium is considered not to meet UEFA safety standards.
Some United fans scaled a fence when a crush developed in their end after 5,000 people crammed into a stand built for 3,500 fans.
Lille fans responded to the goal by hurling missiles onto the pitch, one of which struck United captain Gary Neville on the head as he was waiting to take a throw in.
