UEFA TO INVESTIGATE UNITED LINE-UP?

[12pm update - UEFA confirm they won't take action]

From the Guardian:

Ordinarily, Sir Alex Ferguson would like to brush over this type of inelegant display and move on, but Uefa might yet ensure there are repercussions. The governing body have indicated they will want an explanation about the weakened nature of Ferguson's team.

Certainly Uefa are entitled to ask why Ferguson made seven changes from their tie against Juventus in Turin two weeks ago, fielding the sort of side he usually reserves for the early rounds of the Worthington Cup.

Darren Fletcher, a 19-year-old debutant, and Kieran Richardson, making only his third appearance, occupied the areas where Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs usually patrol, while Laurent Blanc was dusted off for his first start since January 4, having been told a few weeks ago he would only be used "in emergencies."

In mitigation, Ferguson can cite injuries to Roy Keane, Mikael Silvestre and Juan Sebastian Veron. The United manager can also point out that, after qualifying from the competition's opening phase, he picked his strongest team against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford in November only for Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham to pick up injuries that kept them out for six weeks and four weeks respectively.

United may have to use that argument if Uefa opt to remind them of paragraph 1.08 in their Champions League regulations before Tuesday's game against Deportivo La Coruna in the Riazor stadium, when Ferguson intends to play another shadow XI.

"The rules state that clubs have to field their strongest teams, even if they have already qualified," said a Uefa spokesman. "If Manchester United are not doing this, our disciplinary body may have to consider possible sanctions. We have a range of disciplinary measures starting from a warning, then a reprimand and a fine, to the nullification of the result and ordering the match to be replayed."

Should they wish, Uefa can also deduct points but the chances of that happening are somewhere between minuscule and non-existent.

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