UEFA drop Keane appeal

Roy Keane will be free to play in Europe from the start of next season after UEFA withdrew its appeal against their own disciplinary sanction against the Manchester United captain.

Keane missed the disastrous second leg of the Champions League knock-out defeat by Porto earlier this month after being sent off in the opening game for standing on goalkeeper Vitor Baia late in the game.

At the time, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Baia had made the most of the incident, which brought about the 11th red card of Keane’s United career.

The UEFA disciplinary panel subsequently opted to hand Keane a one-game ban.

European football’s governing body reacted by launching an appeal against that verdict, raising the suggestion Keane could serve a three-match suspension.

However, UEFA disciplinary inspector Gerhard Kapl has now confirmed the action has been abandoned.

“Given the situation in the European Champions League and taking into account Manchester United have been eliminated we are content to allow Roy Keane to play next season,” he said.

While understandably delighted Keane is now free to play in next year’s competition, United officials are fuming with the wording of UEFA’s statement.

They feel the implication is that the action would have continued had United advanced to the last eight and do not understand the apparently arbitrary nature of UEFA’s disciplinary process.

However, they have decided against expressing their concerns publicly and now consider the matter closed.