Giggs gets UEFA nod to face Russians

RYAN GIGGS has been cleared to play in Wales' Euro 2004 play-off decider tonight after UEFA rejected Russia's bid to have him kicked out of the match.

UEFA's disciplinary chiefs rejected an appeal by the Russian Football Union to have Giggs banned for the clash at the Millennium Stadium following an alleged elbow on defender Vadim Evseev in Saturday's explosive first leg.

But the Manchester United winger will have to face a UEFA charge of "improper conduct" at a later date, which could result in a subsequent ban, but most likely will be a fine.

The decision comes after the depths of Russian desperation to stop Giggs playing finally surfaced. After a tape of the incident failed to arrive at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland, and was unlikely to do so yesterday, the Russians sent a video clip of the match via e-mail late yesterday afternoon.

That forced UEFA to consider the appeal, which they would not have done had the evidence not arrived in Nyon until the day of the match. But after disciplinary committee members had reviewed the incident, they decided it was not serious enough for a violent conduct charge, although the Welshman still has a case to answer.

A UEFA spokesman said: "Ryan Giggs will be able to play in the second leg against Russia, but he will have to answer a subsequent charge of improper conduct."

And Europe's governing body have also explained on a website that time restraints made it impossible to ban Giggs from the Millennium Stadium match because any player has the right to answer a charge in writing. That would have been impossible in the circumstances.

Fears that Giggs could get a one or two match ban are also likely to be unfounded.

For "improper conduct" charges, players are usually fined a nominal amount if found guilty.

"The Russians have tried to get the best player we have out of our side, by fair means or foul," declared Wales manager Mark Hughes. "I think that is the motivation for their actions. It was not a challenge or a deliberate strike by Ryan, he was trying to free himself from the guy behind him."

Hughes has seen his preparation for the match disrupted by not knowing for two days which players he could select from.

And Hughes also reveals that Giggs has not been able to train properly since the team returned to Cardiff on Sunday and is still a slight doubt for tonight's match.

The FAW will appeal against the decision to charge Giggs with the lesser offence of improper conduct, which is due to be heard at a UEFA hearing on December 4.

Russia have also not escaped UEFA's disciplinary chiefs and have been charged over the use of firecrackers and flares during the first leg.

Hughes, meanwhile, has warned his players not to allow the most important game their nation has faced in 45 years to turn into a war.

"Players will be made aware that they cannot get involved in all the stuff that goes on out on the pitch. The opposition is usually a lot better than us at it anyway."

Hughes has faith in his charges not to be provoked into retribution or retaliation. He said: "The players have to seize the day, go out and earn the right to qualify. It is a game than can change peoples' lives, change their careers and open so many doors. That is what we aim to do."

As well as Giggs, Hughes has injury doubts over Mark Pembridge, Andy Johnson and Robbie Savage. But he will be tempted not to change the side which produced in Moscow what he called "the best performance of my tenure in control".

Hughes can bring in Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw but that would mean leaving out one of the midfield heroes of Moscow, Johnson or Jason Koumas.