Savage disputes ban

Robbie Savage is considering taking legal action against Fifa, the world governing body, to overturn his red card for Wales against Northern Ireland.

Robbie Savage is considering taking legal action against Fifa, the world governing body, to overturn his red card for Wales against Northern Ireland.

The 29-year-old reacted to a foul by Michael Hughes, both were sent off and the Birmingham midfielder is thus banned for the World Cup qualifier against England next month. With no right of appeal, Savage has consulted the lawyer Mel Goldberg, who argues that the ban raises issues of human rights.

Goldberg said: "When someone gets a red card there's automatic suspension immediately, no appeal, no representation, and you have to accept it. We think it's unfair, maybe contrary to human rights, that you can have no representation even if the referee has made a mistake. That is what we are considering.

"We take the view that it is harsh because people make mistakes, and in every other walk of life you have a right to appeal and ask them to have a look to see if there is an error."

Savage's legal team have sent Fifa videos of the incident and are hoping to discuss the matter with officials. If the referee, Domenico Messina, is deemed to have made an "obvious error in the referee's disciplinary decision", then it is possible for the suspension to be overturned.