Savage drops appeal fight

Giggs makes Wales return FAW defends Savage

Wales midfielder Robbie Savage has admitted defeat in his quest to overturn his one-match ban for being sent off against Northern Ireland.

Savage, who will now miss the match with England, said Fifa's decision to uphold his red card was "disgraceful".

"I would have gone all the way with my fight, even to the High Court had it been left to me," said Savage.

"But my legal firm has told me that it really won't be in my interests and could cost up to £35,000."

In his column in the Birmingham Sunday Mercury, Savage explained: "They told me that, despite numerous representations, not only have Fifa refused me a personal hearing but they won't give me permission to go before a sporting arbitration panel in Lausanne. Unbelievable!

"There's little point in paying for lawyers to advise you and then ignoring them, so I've decided finally that the fight is over.

"I'll be in the team for the match against Poland and I'm now praying that the lads can get a result against England."

Wales manager Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce, Savage's club boss at Birmingham, had also advised the fiery midfielder to abandon his fight against Fifa and to accept his punishment.

Deciding to accept the one-match ban has been the most sickening moment of my life Wales and Birmingham midfielder Robbie Savage

He was sent off after just eight minutes of the World Cup qualifier in Cardiff after reacting to a wild lunge by opponent Michael Hughes.

"Robbie feels so strongly about it, and rightly so, because he should never have been sent off," said Hughes, who steps down after the World Cup double header against England and Poland next month.

Savage maintains players who feel they have been sent off unjustly should be allowed to challenge the referee's decision.

"These Fifa rules which give no right of appeal against a red card are shocking," added the 29-year-old.

"My lawyers tell me they know of no other organisation in the world where such a process is denied people.

"It's absolutely disgraceful, but what can you do?

"This thing is going to haunt me until my dying day. This incident and its repercussions will go with me to my grave.

"Deciding to accept the one-match ban has been the most sickening moment of my life - only equalled by the surgeon who told me my life would be at risk if I didn't have an operation on my neck."

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