FIFPro in clemency plea to UEFA (From Bucks Free Press)

FIFPro in clemency plea to UEFA

1:05pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

The international players' union have issued a plea for clemency by UEFA for six Chelsea and Bayern Munich players suspended for the Champions League final.

FIFPro say there is an argument to allow the players, three from each club, who all picked up yellow cards in the semi-finals, to be allowed to play. The players' union points out that UEFA will adopt FIFA's policy for Euro 2012 where existing yellow cards are waived after the quarter-finals.

The Chelsea players are Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles, with Luiz Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber from Bayern.

FIFPro spokesman Simon Barker said: "Anybody committing a serious offence in the semi-final should be awarded a red card and miss the final.

"But the offences that result in a yellow card do not justify the serious punishment of missing the match of your life.

"For example, Alaba slipped over and gets the ball kicked against his hand - it is not right that such a player should miss the Champions League final because of this.

"Some people say that this will give players the licence to kick all and sundry during the semi-final, but that is utter nonsense.

"Any serious offence will result in a red card and that still means exclusion from the final."