UEFA demanded Arsenal striker Eduardo appear before their appeals committee YESTERDAY!

The Sun says Arsenal had to point out that their star striker was rather busy . . . playing - and scoring - for Croatia against England!

Emirates officials were stunned by the blunder as Eduardo fights to overturn his two-match Champions League ban for diving.

An Arsenal source said: "Surely UEFA must have realised Eduardo was involved in the World Cup qualifying matches.

"This just about sums up the way they have handled the whole case."