Styles issues Bolton apology
30 Sep 2008 - 07:41:16
Rob Styles has apologised to Bolton Wanderers after the referee awarded Manchester United a controversial penalty against them at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Styles ruled in the 60th minute with the scoreline still goalless that Jlloyd Samuel had fouled Cristiano Ronaldo inside the area and awarded a penalty that the Portugal international duly netted.
United went on to win 2-0 but the Professional Game Match Official Board (PGMO) has told the BBC that Styles spoke to Bolton on Monday to apologise for his decision.
Speaking after Saturday's game, Bolton boss Gary Megson said the penalty decision was "nonsense", adding: "I don't want him (Rob Styles) to ring me up. I'd have more respect from him if he just holds his hands up and says he was wrong."
Meanwhile, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is pleased that Styles has apologised, saying: "Rob takes a lot of credit. It helps in terms of him showing some humility towards the game. That's the most important thing.
"It's good he's done it. It presents him in a different light. It shows he has character and is big enough to do it."