Lille lodge complaint after controversial defeat

PARIS, Feb 21 (Reuters) Lille have lodged a formal complaint to UEFA after losing 1-0 to Manchester United in a controversial Champions League first knockout round first leg today.

The French club, whose players staged a near walkout after a quickly-taken Ryan Giggs free kick gave the visitors a late victory, also hit back at United manager Alex Ferguson.

Lille coach Claude Puel said he did not know what would come from the complaint about the refereeing to European soccer's governing body but told reporters: ''I think United really lacked fair play''.

Ferguson said the free kick, six minutes from time, had been played by the book and he was disgusted by the home side's reaction to the goal.

''I think UEFA have got to take some action,'' the Scot told Britain's ITV Sport. ''I've never in my life seen anything like that.

''It's a disgrace, what we've seen tonight. That's not football.

The Lille staff encouraged their players to come off the pitch. It's intimidation of the referee and it's made for a hostile atmosphere inside the ground.'' Puel dismissed the remarks, saying: ''Alex Ferguson thinks what he wants. But I do not understand that this man indulges in such comments. He could spare them.

''However, we do not have to start a polemici. These comments are just one of Alex Ferguson's usual tricks.'' GOAL DISALLOWED Lille had a goal disallowed 15 minutes before Giggs struck, with Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar ruling Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie had pushed United defender Nemanja Vidic before heading in a Gregory Tafforeau cross.

Giggs's free kick caught the whole Lille team off guard but Ferguson said that was part of the game.

''The referee gave the permission to take the kick so the goal is perfectly valid,'' said Ferguson. ''We've already seen this in England.

''If players ask the referee to take the free kick quickly, they are allowed to do so. Rules are crystal clear.

''If my team concedes such a goal, I will blame the goalkeeper for not having organised his wall faster.'' Lille now face a huge task at Old Trafford for the return leg on March 7.

''We will travel there to clinch a quarter-final spot. We will be desperate to make it happen,'' said midfielder Ludovic Obraniak.

REUTERS SAM ND1704