UEFA rejects Valencia appeal over penalty farce in youth match
Valencia's appeal against their controversial UEFA Youth League defeat to Chelsea has been rejected by UEFA.
The Spanish club complained to European football's governing body after Alberto Gil's spot-kick in the penalty shootout was wrongly disallowed during the club's Round of 16 encounter with current title-holders Chelsea last week.
Gil stepped up as Valencia's first penalty taker, and sent his effort past Chelsea 'keeper Bradley Collins. Videos from Valencia's Twitter account showed the ball crossing the line before striking a net stanchion and bouncing back out, but both the referee and the official on the goal-line ruled it had hit the post.
In spite of Gil's incessant petition to the referee, the call stood and Chelsea wound up winning the shootout, 5-3, and advancing to the quarterfinals. Gary Neville, coach of Valencia's senior team, later called the officiating ''scandalous''.
After being informed by the UEFA on the dismissal to the appeal lodged by @valenciacf send your support by using #ÁnimoVCFjuvenil
— Valencia CF English (@valenciacf_en) February 29, 2016
A statement on www.valenciacf.com: "Valencia have been informed by UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body of their decision to dismiss the club's protest against the penalty shoot-out in the Chelsea v Valencia game in the UEFA Youth League.
"The club regrets the decision taken by UEFA.
"We want to encourage our young players to continue to be motivated and continue believing in fair play."
Press Association contributed to this report.
