Sunday, 31st October 2010
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has slammed referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision to award Manchester United a controversial second goal at Old Trafford which helped the hosts to a 2-0 win.
Manchester United were leading 1-0, through a Nemanja Vidic header in the first half, when Nani ran through on goal towards Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes. The Portuguese winger appeared to dive over the onrushing Gomes, and then clearly handled the ball. Gomes, understandably, felt Clattenburg had nodded towards him to signal the free kick, and rolled the ball out to kick it upfield. Nani then pounced however, and struck the ball into an empty net, leaving Clattenburg awarding the goal.
It was a decision which left Redknapp fuming: "It was farcical. Nani’s handled the ball, put his hand on the ball and handled the ball. The goalie’s seen him handle it. It’s a deliberate handball. If the referee’s seen it – he said he’s let play go on because we’ve got the ball. If he’s saying he saw the handball incident he has to book him. Why hasn’t he booked him?"
Redknapp also pointed to the reaction of the Man Utd players who expected Nani to come back and defend, gesturing for him to do so, in apparent acknowledgement of the free kick to come.
"That’s as bad a decision as when they disallowed Pedro Mendes’ goal a few years ago [that was clearly over the line]. Mark Clattenburg is a top referee, but he’s had a nightmare there, no doubt."
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