Rae waits for Uefa verdict on 'kicking' opponent
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Your support makes all the difference.Alex Rae could face punishment after Uefa confirmed they would look at video evidence of an incident which left a CSKA Moscow player concussed.
Television pictures showed the midfielder appearing to kick grounded opponent Serghei Dadu in the head during his side's Champions' League qualifying defeat in Russia on Tuesday. The Rangers manager, Alex McLeish, immediately pleaded his player's innocence after Dutch referee Jan Wegereef missed the incident.
But European football's governing body will review the evidence and a report from a Uefa delegate before deciding his fate.
"We have received a referee's report but it does not mention the incident in question," a Uefa spokesman said. "We are still waiting for the delegate's report and the video tape so there's nothing new at the moment. We need to receive the tape and look at the images before we decide whether or not to open up a disciplinary case."
CSKA coach, Valery Gazzayev, called for Uefa to take swift action and ban the former Wolves man from the return leg at Ibrox in a fortnight but Rae claimed: "The ball was actually there and he put his head down between my foot and the ball. It looked worse than it was, without a doubt. No action was taken by the referee."
The CSKA coach said Rae's actions had left his player concussed after the match. "I was close to the incident and it was a kick in the head," Gazzayev said. "The referee's view was blocked by other players and I am sure he would have made the right decision if he had seen it.
"There was a Uefa observer and delegate at the game though and I'll leave the decision to them. Our player was left injured and suffering from concussion. We will have to bear in mind their rough challenges for the second leg."
But Rae remained unrepentant and said: "If anything, it was dangerous play from him [Dadu]. Their bench made a lot of it but the fact that the ref took no action shows what the situation really is."
McLeish backed Rae, adding: "The ball was on the ground when Alex attempted to kick it and it just so happened that there was a Moscow player lying beside it. I think that's why they were upset because they thought Alex shouldn't have gone for the ball."
Meanwhile, the Lens midfielder Charles-Edouard Coridon left Scotland yesterday insisting his heart is still set on a move to Celtic despite interest from Everton. The 31-year-old Martinique international hopes his trial period and performance in the pre-season game with Tottenham has persuaded Martin O'Neill to make a bid.
"I am hoping that a decision will be made by Monday," Coridon said. "If Celtic decide not to take me then I have the opportunity to play in the English Premier League - but my first priority is to play for Celtic." Lens are believed to want £1.5m for the skilful midfielder.
Everton manager David Moyes watched Coridon at Parkhead on Tuesday night.
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