UEFA chief rules out changes to disciplinary system
UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner has ruled out a change to the disciplinary system in the wake of Pavel Nedved’s suspension from last night’s Champions League final.
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi claimed the loss of his influential Czech playmaker was a major reason behind his side’s ineffective display in their penalty shoot-out defeat to AC Milan at Old Trafford.
Nedved picked up his third yellow card of the competition in the second leg of the Turin giants’ semi-final win over Real Madrid, forcing him out of last night’s all-Italian decider.
Just like Manchester United duo Roy Keane and Paul Scholes in 1999, Nedved was a frustrated spectator in the stands even though there were players on the pitch who had received more cautions during the competition as a whole.
However, while Aigner sympathises with Nedved for missing out on what could have been the biggest match of his entire career, he insists the disciplinary process is correct.
“I can understand Nedved’s unhappiness at not being able to play in what could be his only chance to be in a final,” said Aigner.
“On the other hand though, the best way to get around such a situation would be not to get that third yellow card. Players have to respect the rules.
“If you look at the standards of behaviour in our football, we have standards on the field it would be difficult to find elsewhere.
“That hasn’t come from nothing. It has happened through a process which has evolved over 20 years.
“Occasionally it hurts the players but that is why the system works.”
