Appeal against Giggs goal rejected

Uefa has rejected Lille's appeal against Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs' winning goal in their Champions League match…

Uefa has rejected Lille's appeal against Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs' winning goal in their Champions League match in Lens last week.

The French side lost 1-0 to a late, quickly-taken free-kick but the club appealed to Uefa, claiming there had been a technical error by the referee in allowing the Wales winger to convert the set-piece without blowing his whistle.

Uefa's control and disciplinary body previously vetoed the claim and that decision has been ratified by the Uefa's appeals body.

"The appeals body supported the original decision that there was no proof of a technical error, and validated the result in Lens, a 1-0 victory to the English club," said a statement on www.uefa.com.

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"Lille will have the possibility of making a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within three days of receiving notification of the Uefa appeals body's ruling."

Once Lille receive written notice of the decision they will have three days in which to launch an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A ruling would then be unlikely before Wednesday's second leg.

Uefa's control and disciplinary body will hold a separate hearing on March 22 into the controversial scenes that followed Giggs's goal.

Several Lille players seemed close to walking off the pitch in protest, although the club have denied that was their intention.

The panel will also examine crowd problems during the match, including the throwing of objects by Lille supporters and a crush caused by apparent overcrowding in the United end.

French officials have said the problem was caused by some United supporters entering the stadium with forged tickets.

The match was staged at Racing Lens's Bollaert stadium because Lille's own ground does not meet Uefa standards.