UEFA stands firm on Champions League final bans

Darren Fletcher(L) of Manchester United is shown the red card during their Champions League semifinal against Arsenal in London May 5, 2009. Fletcher and Barcelona pair Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves will all miss the Champions League final after UEFA said on Monday there were no grounds for overturning their suspensions.

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Manchester United's Darren Fletcher and Barcelona pair Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves will all miss the Champions League final after UEFA said on Monday there were no grounds for overturning their suspensions.

UEFA, announcing the decision of its Control and Disciplinary Body on Monday, said in a statement that the two clubs had failed to get their appeals in on time, but even if they had made the deadline they would have been rejected.

"There were no grounds for contesting the referees' original decisions," the statement said.

All three players will serve one-match bans during the final in Rome on May 27, although UEFA added the clubs would have three days in which to lodge appeals against Monday's decision.

Scottish midfielder Fletcher was sent off for a challenge on Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas late in United's semi-final second leg victory last Tuesday.

European soccer's governing body initially said the only grounds for appeal were in a case of mistaken identity but United, encouraged by comments from UEFA general secretary David Taylor, appealed on compassionate grounds.

Barcelona's French defender Abidal was sent off for what the referee saw as a trip on Nicolas Anelka in Wednesday's semi-final second leg against Chelsea, while Brazilian full-back Alves was booked for a challenge on Ashley Cole.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said last week the club were appealing out of respect for the players.

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