Lille claim rejected by UEFA

UEFA disciplinary chiefs have thrown out a complaint by Lille about the validity of Manchester United’s winning goal and have charged the French club’s players with improper conduct.

Lille players threatened to walk off the pitch after Ryan Giggs scored from a quickly-taken free-kick in their Champions League match in Lens on Tuesday.

The French club had claimed the referee should have blown his whistle beforehand, and asked for the game to be replayed.

UEFA said in a statement: “Having examined the official referee’s report, the television evidence at hand as well as the laws of the game, the UEFA control and disciplinary body decided to reject the protest, as there was no proof of a technical error.

“As a result, the body declared that the goal was perfectly valid.

“Furthermore, the control and disciplinary body decided to instigate proceedings against Lille for the improper behaviour of their players immediately after the goal. ”