MARK Hughes today hit-out at Russia's dirty tricks campaign that threatens to deny Wales of Ryan Giggs' genius.

Russian Football Federation chiefs yesterday put pressure on European football's governing body to suspend the Manchester United ace for tomorrow's Euro 2004 play-off second-leg in Cardiff after claiming Giggs had elbowed Russian right-back Vadim Evseev.

The Football Association of Wales was last night frantically preparing a dossier of evidence to support the 29-year-old left-winger's case.

The FAW's defence file includes pictures of a deep scar on Giggs' shin after an X-rated tackle by Evseev, just minutes before the alleged second-half flashpoint.

Portuguese match referee Lucilio Batista did not see the alleged incident, just 20 minutes from the end of Saturday's first-leg stalemate in Moscow, so Giggs escaped punishment.

Like Batista, the two assistant referees, the fourth official and UEFA match delegate Andreas Akkelides did not see Giggs' purported misdemeanour and therefore it has not been included in their match-reports.

Due to disciplinary red tape any ban would only come into force after a full disciplinary case that could only be heard after tomorrow's Millennium Stadium winner-takes-all showdown.

"It's frustrating because we are trying to prepare for the biggest game of in Welsh footballing history," Hughes opened-up.

"This is something we could do without. Basically, Russia feel they need to try everything that they can to win the tie and they feel this is an opportunity to take one of the best players in the world out of a very important game for us.

"It is very annoying and frustrating because we don't really know who is going to be available for selection at this moment in time.

"We hope this mess is resolved quickly so we can concentrate on the game. UEFA will need to look at the actual footage of the incident.

"Obviously any decision made we would look at in very precise detail and make a response. We'd like to think no more action would be take.

"UEFA must remember camera angles are very deceptive and you have to understand at the time the lad went down very easily. Whether or not the camera angle emphasises that I honesty don't know.

"My own interpretation of the video footage doesn't really matter, it's UEFA's that matters. It's up to them to make a judgement."