Poor Darren Fletcher

So, Man Utd are through to a second successive Champions League final. But poor Darren Fletcher will not be there after a refereeing error saw him receive a red card for what was an excellent tackle on Cesc Fabregas.

How the referee did not see the deviation of the ball after Fletcher’s intervention only he will know.

But what is perhaps more criminal than the inept refereeing is UEFA’s lack of an appeal process. No matter how horrendous the error, no referee can have his decision changed (other than in a case of mistaken identity). This reeks of arrogance – a refusal to admit that their officials are fallible.

After an excellent tackle that should have prevented a goalscoring opportunity turned into a red card and a converted penalty, Darren Fletcher will beg to differ.

He now misses the biggest game of his life, totally and entirely unjustly. The referee, and UEFA, should be ashamed.