Soccer-Barca to appeal Abidal, Alves suspensions for final
MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) - Barcelona will appeal Eric Abidal's red card and the yellow card shown to Daniel Alves in the hope of getting their suspensions for the Champions League final against Manchester United overturned.
"Of course we will appeal the cards of Abidal and Alves, out of respect for the players," coach Pep Guardiola said at a news conference on Saturday.
Guardiola also said he thought United's Darren Fletcher should be allowed to play in the Rome final on May 27, after the midfielder was sent off in the semi-final against Arsenal.
United have appealed but UEFA rules make it unlikely that the suspensions will be lifted.
Abidal was sent off for what the referee saw as a trip on Nicolas Anelka in Wednesday's semi-final second leg, while Alves was booked for a challenge on Ashley Cole.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Kevin Fylan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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