Sanchez hits back in Ronaldo 'dive' storm after Ferguson brands Fulham keeper a 'conman'

At loggerheads: Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez and Sir Alex Ferguson
13 April 2012

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.

High flyer: Cristiano Ronaldo is sent sprawling by Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi (left) as he looks to complete his first hat-trick for Manchester United

Red rage: Ronaldo claps Styles after booking the Portuguese

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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