UPDATE 3-Soccer-Fletcher, Alves and Abidal to miss final

* UEFA confirms suspensions of United and Barca players

* Barcelona also have growing injury worries (updating with details)

By Mike Collett

BUCHAREST, May 11 (Reuters) - Manchester United's Darren Fletcher and Barcelona pair Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves will 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, 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.

The 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.

UEFA general secretary David Taylor told Reuters: "The decision was no surprise really and although it is a shame the players will miss the final, you cannot have rules based on compassionate grounds. Where would you stop?"

The trio join a list of players unfortunate to have been suspended from the biggest match in European club soccer.