carlyluvsunited
04-12-2007, 10:15 PM
Sanchez hits back in Ronaldo 'dive' storm after Ferguson brands Fulham keeper a 'conman'
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez today defended goalkeeper Antti Niemi and
insisted Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the Finn is a con artist was wrong.
A furious Ferguson hit out at Niemi for getting Ronaldo booked for diving when
one-on-one with the keeper during Manchester United's 2-0 win over Fulham last
night.
The United boss believed Ronaldo should have been awarded a spot kick from
which he might have secured his hat-trick, but referee Rob Styles seemed to be
swayed by Niemi protesting he had not touched Ronaldo.
Ferguson said: "The penalty-kick incident was the result of a perceived idea of the
referee that Ronaldo dives. But in fairness to the referee, in this case, the
goalkeeper has conned him. Without question, the goalkeeper got Ronaldo
booked.
"Why would he want to dive? He's gone full pelt, he's got the ball by the
goalkeeper, he's on a hat-trick, there's no reason to dive. It was a ridiculous
decision.
"You could see Niemi's reaction immediately as Ronaldo has gone down, and that
was unfair."
Sanchez saw it differently, though, insisting: "Obviously Antti didn't feel any
contact with his feet so he assumed that Ronaldo has jumped over the top of him
and then gone to ground. There was no contact. Watch the replays. Antti didn't
touch Ronaldo and that was all he was trying to point out to the referee."
Ronaldo, himself, refused to condemn Styles even though he insisted it was a
penalty.
The winger, runner-up to Kaka in the European Footballer of the Year Award, was
not as forceful as his manager, and insisted it was simply a bad call.
"I try to do my job and I try to play honestly," he said. "I respect the referee's
decision, but I do not have the same opinion because I thought it was a penalty.
If you see the replay, the goalkeeper never touched the ball, so it is frustrating
the referee gave me a yellow card."
Fulham are hovering only two points above the drop zone and face a tricky trip to
Everton on Saturday. But last night's victory for United - their seventh straight
home win - lifted them back to second in the Premier League, three points adrift
of Arsenal who have a game in hand.
Ferguson added: "It is going to be a real battle."
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Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez today defended goalkeeper Antti Niemi and
insisted Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the Finn is a con artist was wrong.
A furious Ferguson hit out at Niemi for getting Ronaldo booked for diving when
one-on-one with the keeper during Manchester United's 2-0 win over Fulham last
night.
The United boss believed Ronaldo should have been awarded a spot kick from
which he might have secured his hat-trick, but referee Rob Styles seemed to be
swayed by Niemi protesting he had not touched Ronaldo.
Ferguson said: "The penalty-kick incident was the result of a perceived idea of the
referee that Ronaldo dives. But in fairness to the referee, in this case, the
goalkeeper has conned him. Without question, the goalkeeper got Ronaldo
booked.
"Why would he want to dive? He's gone full pelt, he's got the ball by the
goalkeeper, he's on a hat-trick, there's no reason to dive. It was a ridiculous
decision.
"You could see Niemi's reaction immediately as Ronaldo has gone down, and that
was unfair."
Sanchez saw it differently, though, insisting: "Obviously Antti didn't feel any
contact with his feet so he assumed that Ronaldo has jumped over the top of him
and then gone to ground. There was no contact. Watch the replays. Antti didn't
touch Ronaldo and that was all he was trying to point out to the referee."
Ronaldo, himself, refused to condemn Styles even though he insisted it was a
penalty.
The winger, runner-up to Kaka in the European Footballer of the Year Award, was
not as forceful as his manager, and insisted it was simply a bad call.
"I try to do my job and I try to play honestly," he said. "I respect the referee's
decision, but I do not have the same opinion because I thought it was a penalty.
If you see the replay, the goalkeeper never touched the ball, so it is frustrating
the referee gave me a yellow card."
Fulham are hovering only two points above the drop zone and face a tricky trip to
Everton on Saturday. But last night's victory for United - their seventh straight
home win - lifted them back to second in the Premier League, three points adrift
of Arsenal who have a game in hand.
Ferguson added: "It is going to be a real battle."
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discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
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