Last night’s giant clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid was ultimately ruined by a quite astonishing refereeing blunder.
Turkish official Cuneyt Cakir brandished a red card to Manchester United winger Nani, after what can only be described as a ‘collision’ between two players – Arbeloa being the other involved.
Please cast your mind back, if you can, to around December time in a league game between West Ham United and Everton.
This was by no means a great game, but it did contain two dismissals for near enough the same challenge that saw Nani receive red last night.
Everton’s Darron Gibson and West Ham’s Carlton Cole were the unlucky two that evening, in a game that ended 2-1 to Everton – Hardly season changing.
However, after both sides lodged appeals with the FA, both decisions were overturned – Which in made each player eligible for their next games.
But last night’s decision spat on and tore apart what was a classic European affair and should this card be rescinded or not won’t matter, because unlike the Premier League there is no next game.
One rash decision, when United were in the driving seat, has quashed their hopes of a treble.
Yes, this has evolved into me pouring out my heart, but it angered me that such a huge game can be affiliated by a referee that was clearly way out of his depth – This has happened too often.