Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (C) holds his children Zach and Libby following their English Premier League soccer match against Blackpool at Old Trafford, northern England, in a May 22, 2011 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

* Giggs absent after being named in privacy case

MANCHESTER, England - Ryan Giggs missed Manchester United's open training session on Tuesday a day after being named in Parliament as the player at the centre of a high-profile privacy case.

Giggs was pictured on the front pages of national newspapers after he was identified by a member of parliament as the footballer who had gained a High Court injunction preventing allegations of an affair being published.

The 37-year-old Welshman was not the only player missing from training as the English title winners prepared for Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley.

Defender Rafael, midfielder Paul Scholes, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and striker Dimitar Berbatov also sat out a session watched by around 200 reporters.

Giggs, one of United's most influential players this season as the club sealed a record 19th English title, is expected to be in the starting line-up for Saturday's showdown against the Spanish champions.

In a news conference after the training session, United manager Alex Ferguson deflected questions about Giggs. "All the players are important, every one of them," Ferguson snapped when one reporter asked how big an influence Giggs was on the team.

Related story: Gang attack reporters' cars at Giggs' home

Stacey Cooke, the wife of Manchester United's Ryan Giggs stands on the pitch following their English Premier League soccer match against Blackpool at Old Trafford, northern England, May 22, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]