Friday, February 23, 2007

Lille blame United for crowd trouble and accuse ref of bias

LONDON - LILLE want Manchester United thrown out of the Champions League, after crowd trouble marred the English club's 1-0 win on Tuesday.

The French side have also accused the referee of bias against them.

With seven minutes left in Tuesday's game, United won a free kick. As Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva organised the position of a defensive wall, Ryan Giggs curled the ball into goal.

That sort of quick free kick has become common in England. Referees are weary of the time defences take to argue decisions and set up their wall.

But it is unheard of in France.

Lille have made an official complaint to Uefa, claiming that Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar encouraged Giggs to take the free kick quickly.

Lille director general Xavier Thuilot said: 'His behaviour showed that he was not being impartial.'

Striker Nicolas Fauvergue added: 'Manchester United were given preferential treatment.

'We feel that we have been betrayed and we are absolutely furious.'

The Daily Mail reported that Uefa guidelines state the kick should not have been taken without the referee's whistle.

In the laws of football, a referee does not have to blow his whistle for a free kick to be taken.

But Uefa believe it is unfair for the defensive side to not be fully prepared when the kick is around the penalty area.

European football's governing body gave these guidelines to its match officials at various refereeing seminars over the past year.

A check with Uefa confirmed this view.

Its statement to The Straits Times read: 'The Uefa Referee Development Programme 2006 says: If the attacking team have decided not to immediately have a quick free kick, then clearly advise them that they must wait for a signal.'

Thuilot also blamed United for the crush scare along the perimeter fences involving their supporters early in the game.

He said: 'We sent Manchester their quota of tickets several weeks ago, which is usual practice.

'However, the English club distributed the tickets a month ago, instead of giving them to their supporters as they came off the coaches at the stadium.'

United rejected Lille's claims about the tickets.

A club spokesman told PA Sport: 'Tickets were distributed by recorded delivery 11 days before the game or for collection from February 1.'

The disciplinary committee of Uefa will meet on March 22 to discuss the issue.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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