Manchester United FC

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• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

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Ronaldo red riles Ferguson

01 Dec 2008 - 07:15:58

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson spoke up for Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese ace was sent off in the 1-0 derby victory at Manchester City.

Ronaldo was shown a second yellow card by referee Howard Webb for deliberate handball at a corner, but Ferguson felt that that decision was harsh.

He commented: "He was trying to protect himself from the ball hitting him in the face.

"He thought he had heard a whistle, he got a little push as well and it is not as if he punched the ball.

"If that had been outside the box, it would have been a free-kick and nothing else, but the crowd played a part and he got sent off.

"Sometimes you have to overcome these things and we overcame a lot."

However, Ferguson's Citizens counterpart, Mark Hughes, felt that the red card was fully justified.

He added: "I don't think the referee had any choice.

"I don't know what reason he will give for doing it, but if he says the ball was going to hit him in the face why didn't he head it?

"It is a soft sending-off, but it was a second bookable offence and he had to go."