Lille end Champions League protest

Lille have decided to end their protest against Ryan Giggs’ winning goal for Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie a fortnight ago.

The French side lost 1-0 thanks to a quickly taken Giggs free-kick in Lens on February 20.

The club appealed to UEFA, claiming the referee had made a technical error in not blowing his whistle before the winger converted the set-piece.

UEFA’s control and disciplinary body vetoed the claim, and that decision was last week ratified by the European governing body’s appeals department.

Lille considered this week whether to take their protest to the Court of Arbitration of Sport, but on Friday announced they would not be taking their appeal any further.

A statement on the club’s official website, www.losc.fr, read: “In order not to sink into relentless legal proceedings with no end in sight, LOSC have taken the decision not to pursue its appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Lille were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday when they lost the second leg 1-0 at Old Trafford, United completing a 2-0 aggregate victory.