Czechs want Nedved booking reviewed

The Czech Republic have asked UEFA to reconsider the yellow card issued to their captain Pavel Nedved during the quarter-final against Denmark.

Nedved was booked by referee Valentin Ivanov for fouling Jesper Gronkjaer and should he be cautioned against Greece on Thursday he would miss the final should the Czechs win.

Czech FA general secretary Petr Fousek said: “We are not making an official appeal but we have asked UEFA to have another look at the film evidence and reconsider. We hope they can give us an answer by tomorrow morning.”

The Czechs are furious that Nedved was yellow-carded for a seemingly-innocuous incident.

Assistant coach Miroslav Beranek added: “We have repeatedly analysed the video recording and in our opinion the decision of the referee was too strict.

“We don’t think he deserved it – on the contrary the Danish players were not behaving very fairly and on of them even pulled his hair.”

Nedved missed playing for Juventus in the 2003 Champions League final due to suspension but Beranek said there was little chance of head coach Karel Bruckner leaving their star player on the bench.

The Czechs have had good and bad news ahead of Thursday's semi-final against Greece in Porto over the two players who suffered injuries against Denmark.

Central defender Rene Bolf trained today after recovering from a knock but right-back Martin Jiranek is expected to miss the semi-final with a groin injury, with Ajax’s Zdenek Grygera set to start in his place.

However, a scan of the problem has revealed that it is only a minor tear and Jiranek could be fit again if his side reach the final.

Probable team: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Bolf, Jankulovski, Poborsky, Galasek, Rosicky, Nedved, Koller, Baros.