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No Charity From Ferguson

By | 10th August 2009
evra-ballack
No Charity From Ferguson  | read this item

evra-ballackSir Alex Ferguson was in no mood for charity after Chelsea struck the first psychological blow ahead of the new Premier League season with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win at Wembley on Sunday.

The Scot was furious that referee Chris Foy failed to spot a blatant block by substitute Michael Ballack on Patrice Evra prior to Chelsea scoring a “deciding” second goal on 70 minutes. The match official allowed play to continue and Frank Lampard’s effort found its way past Ben Foster.

United – who lost opening goalscorer Nani to a dislocated shoulder – did get back on level terms courtesy of a fine Wayne Rooney strike to take the curtain-raiser to penalties but Petr Cech proved the hero with two saves.

Ferguson was pleased with his new-look side’s application but was more damning about Foy for a lack of consistency. He also implied that the experienced Germany midfielder Ballack has acquired a reputation for conning referees.

He said: “With a replay you can see Ballack has elbowed the boy, and if the referee had seen it properly, it is a red card.

“The referee is in line with it, and should have at least stopped the game, but he did not.

“Of course, then they went on and scored the second goal.

“It is hard to blame the Chelsea players, because it is a professional game.

“But it is making it very difficult for referees [to know] when players are acting to get the game stopped.

“It is an area I am concerned about and we have got to find a solution to that part.”

Nick Walsh writes features and betting previews for Betfair.


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