Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has claimed Wayne Rooney should have been sent off at the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Rooney caught James McCarthy in the face with his elbow during the opening minutes of Manchester United's 4-0 win at the DW Stadium. The home fans were incensed but referee Mark Clattenburg took no action, apart from awarding the hosts a free-kick.
Having looked at the incident again, Martinez is convinced his side should have been playing against 10 men, and said: "I saw the incident clearly and the referee did as well because he gave the free-kick. Once you give a free-kick it is quite clear that it is a red card. When you look at the replay, it is quite clear he catches James McCarthy in the face with his elbow."
He added: "If one of my players had done that, I would think he was very lucky to stay on the pitch.
"It is a big call in the game. It is unfortunate because the referee saw it but he didn't feel it was a red card.
"It was not because he was Wayne Rooney. It was an incident in the game. That is it."
Predictably, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took an alternate view, feeling Clattenburg made the correct call.
"I have had a chance to see it," said the Scot. "There is nothing in it.
"But, what will happen, the question has been asked and because it is Wayne Rooney the press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.
"It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it."
Source: PA
