Euro 2004 play-offs/second leg: Wales and Russia, crime and punishment. A day of slow tension in Cardiff erupted late yesterday afternoon when UEFA announced that, after Russia's appeal, Ryan Giggs was charged with "improper conduct" for the use of his elbow on Russia's right-back Vadim Evseev during the second half of last Saturday's first leg in Moscow.

UEFA, however, cleared Giggs to play this evening, but the winger's night will be tinged by the knowledge that if Wales win and reach Portugal he could miss the first and possibly second match at the finals.

Should UEFA choose, they could even exact the greatest punishment: three games, meaning Giggs would be unavailable for the group games. Mark Hughes would then have to consider whether even to take a player who has been trying for 12 years to help Wales qualify for a major tournament. That depends on Giggs being found guilty at the UEFA hearing on December 4th.

But there is recent precedence involving a high-profile British player, an elbow and UEFA. Last November, Alan Shearer was suspended for two Champions League fixtures following an elbow levelled at Internazionale's Fabio Cannavaro at St James' Park.

UEFA reviewed video evidence in that case, too, the referee on the night having failed to see Shearer's elbow and produce even a yellow card. In their hearing UEFA took into account provocation, but Shearer confirmed last night that he would have been given a three-game ban had he chosen to appeal. He and Newcastle decided not to and took the lesser punishment.

As with Giggs yesterday, the charge then was improper conduct and the scenario leaves Giggs and Wales in an agonising position. An appeal could rile UEFA.

"We are relieved that after a nerve-racking afternoon Ryan has been cleared to play against Russia," said the Welsh FA's secretary-general David Collins. "But equally we are concerned that he still faces a charge.

"We are also disappointed that this case has gone on at such a crucial time, the day before the biggest game in Welsh football for many, many years. But we will vigorously defend Ryan at the hearing."

Hughes was smouldering even before the afternoon's developments, saying Russia were doing "everything they can" to "take out" Giggs. "We have been trying to prepare for the biggest game in Wales's history, a game that could change careers, the rest of people's lives. It's a distraction you don't want," Hughes said.

Evseev was silent yesterday, but Alexander Mostovoi was not. The experienced Russian midfielder is suspended after collecting a second yellow card in Moscow, but he stoked the atmosphere tonight with some strong accusations.

"To win we will have to tame those boors," was how Mostovoi began his assessment of Wales. "For me it (last Saturday) came as a big and unpleasant surprise. As a kid, I thought the British were real gentlemen. I often watch the English Premiership - it's tough, masculine football, but there is very little crudeness.

"I was clearly wrong in my impressions. Giggs and his fellow players started swearing at us from the first minute. It was very strong - 'fuck off' and worse - abuse heaped on us from the dustbin. For me the most unpleasant were (Robbie) Savage and (Jason) Koumas. They were weaker. They felt helpless. The Welsh could not expect more than a draw, so they used these dirty tricks."

At some point this evening a football match will have to break out. Hughes has to decide whether to change any of the personnel who performed so durably in Moscow. Mark Pembridge is fit again and an option.

For Russia, former captain Yegor Titov is likely to stand in for Mostovoi, and they have to replace the suspended goalkeeper, Sergei Ovchinnikov.

A score draw would see Russia progress to their first European finals since 1996.

For Wales the prize is even greater. Not since the World Cup of 1958, when Wales qualified via a two-legged play-off against Israel after other teams had dropped out, have any Welshmen played on a world or continental stage.

But if Giggs gets the winner tonight, will he be around in Portugal to benefit?

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

WALES (4-1-4-1): Jones (Southampton); Delaney (Aston Villa), Melville (Fulham), Gabbidon (Cardiff), Barnard (Grimsby); Speed (Newcastle Utd); Koumas, Johnson (both West Brom), Savage (Birmingham City), Giggs (Manchester Utd); Hartson (Celtic).

RUSSIA (4-3-1-2): Malafeev; Evseev, Ignashevich, Onopko, Sennikov; Smertin, Titov, Alenichev; Loskov; Sytchev, Bulykin.

Referee: ME Gonzalez (Spain).

Guardian Service