The 10 dodgiest penalties awarded at Old Trafford - and, surprise surprise, each one went Manchester

27 April 2009 16:03
With Manchester United again looking formidable favourites for the Premier League title, the injustice of the penalty awarded against Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes may soon be forgotten at Old Trafford.[LNB]But Howard Webb's bizarre decision to point to the spot, when Gomes had clearly managed to palm the ball away from Michael Carrick, is just the latest infamous decision to go the Reds' way on their home turf.[LNB]Most notably there was an incredible 10 year run  - from December 1993 to April 2004 - when not a single penalty was scored against United in a Premier League match at Old Trafford.[LNB]Ruel Fox remained the most recent scorer, for Norwich City in 1993, until Danny Murphy netted for Liverpool in 2004. Juninho, David Dunn and Muzzy Izzet were the only players to miss.[LNB]In the meantime - and since - there have been plenty of curious, unlikely and just plain dubious penalty decisions taken by referees in the Theatre of Dreams. Here, we pick 10 of the worst of them.[LNB] Come on ref! Bolton's players appeal against the penalty decision in 2009[LNB]Manchester United 2 Bolton Wanderers 0Premier League, September 2008 A decision so bad that Bolton were later to receive an apology from the referee. [LNB]        HAVE YOUR SAY...     Do you agree with the PFA Premier League Team of the Year? Sportsmail think they can pick a Premier League XI to beat the PFA's select side. Do you think that the PFA team contains the best players from the top tier this season? Or are there a few glaring omissions? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK With no score on the hour mark, it looked like United were going to have one of those days. But they had not factored in Rob Styles.  [LNB]After Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball down the right and glided into the area, a perfect tackle by JLloyd Samuel stopped the ball dead. Although Ronaldo fell over his leg, even he did not dare claim a penalty.[LNB]For Styles, no matter. Ronaldo crashed it home before Wayne Rooney added a second to seal the win. The referee later asked the Professional Game Match Officials Limited to pass on his regret to Bolton.[LNB]Manchester United 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0Premier League, March 2002This was never a close match, but this was a decision so shocking even Sir Alex Ferguson agreed it was never a penalty. United were already 1-0 up when Mauricio Taricco pulled back Paul Scholes.[LNB]Despite the infringement clearly happening outside the box, Mike Riley gave a penalty and sent off the Argentina full back. Ruud Van Nistelrooy pumped in the spot kick for his 30th goal of the season.[LNB]Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle protested afterwards: 'It was diabolical and the key decision of the game. It was one and a half yards outside the box and he wasn't the last man.' [LNB]Fergie agreed, saying: 'The penalty decision was wrong.' But he added: 'I don't think it was a turning point. We were already one up and when we're in front we're hard to catch. He had to go. He was the last man.'[LNB] Foul play? Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy (left) is challenged by a Tottenham defender as Ledley King sweeps up[LNB]Manchester United 2 Liverpool 0Premier League, September 1998 Even in the days of Roy Evans, when Liverpool were not even semi-serious title contenders, this sort of decision at Old Trafford still made the Merseysiders' blood boil.[LNB]When Brad Friedel failed to properly clear a David Beckham corner, the ball quite literally fell onto Jason McAteer's arm. United predictably screamed for, and got a spot kick, which Denis Irwin converted.[LNB]But after the match, Evans was furious at the 'diabolical' decision by referee Steve Lodge. He said: 'We are getting sick of decisions like that going against us. [LNB]'I'm not saying the ball did not hit his arm, but you have to consider the degree of intent.'[LNB] Controversy: Jason McAteer is alleged to have handled[LNB]Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 1FA Cup third round, January 1999Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson branded United midfielder Nicky Butt a cheat after he made the most (to put it mildly) of a challenge by Neil Maddison.[LNB]The match was on a knife-edge at 1-1 going into the last eight minutes when Graham Barber awarded the spot kick. TV replays would later show there was minimal - if any - contact made.[LNB]Robson raged: 'Nicky Butt has dived. You get some and you lose some and you sometimes go out with a decision like that. Neil said straight away that he did not touch him.'[LNB]Even Sir Alex Ferguson did not wholeheartedly defend his player. He said: 'I've watched it two or three times and I certainly think he caught Nicky. But I must admit it was a softish penalty.'[LNB]And, apparently without irony, he added: 'I'm checking to see if there are two moons, because we got a penalty. We never get penalties at Old Trafford.'[LNB] Pressure point: Andy Cole scores against Middlesbrough[LNB]Manchester United 2 Manchester City 1FA Cup fifth round, February 1996Spot on: Eric Cantona slotted home[LNB]Heading towards half time, the blue half of Manchester were set to cause an almighty upset by claiming their first win over their city rivals since 1989 after an Uwe Rosler strike.[LNB]But six minutes before half time,  referee Alan Wilkie awarded the home side a penalty as Michael Frontzeck and Eric Cantona challenged for the ball in the area.[LNB]The Frenchman hammered home the penalty and a second half goal from Lee Sharpe saw the Reds through.[LNB]City manager Alan Ball said it was a 'shocker'. He said: 'It changed the game. We had the tie taken away from us by a bizarre decision. Nobody in the crowd could believe it. There was bewilderment on every player's face.'[LNB]Match-winner Sharpe agreed: 'A couple of lads say it was harsh in an important cup tie and in a derby like this. If it had happened to us we'd have felt a little hard done by.'[LNB]Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0Premier League, October 2004It was the match that finally ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten league run, but yet again it was a contentious penalty that sealed it.[LNB] Jenas lays into ref for United debacle but insists Spurs can still claim Euro spotMan Utd 5 Spurs 2: The moment that Webb handed the title to UnitedJamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Tevez must stay, Bent the ace finisherMANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail