30If you are part of the ABU brigade, that headline has to make you laugh. For years Man United opponents have said that referee Howard Webb favored Sir Alex Ferguson and United in the big games. So there is some irony them that in Webb’s first game at Old Trafford in the David Moyes era that Moyes branded Webb’s decision not to award a penalty and send Hugo Lloris off for a challenge on Ashley Young during Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Manchester United as “scandalous”.
United were desperately searching for an equaliser at Old Trafford when Lloris came racing out to meet Young, who had charged into the area.
Young got to the ball first, sending an effort towards goal, but was then forced to leap above Lloris to avoid being clattered by the Frenchman.
The winger suffered a bang on the left shoulder as he tumbled to the ground, yet Webb remained unimpressed, rejecting United’s penalty claims – much to Moyes’ disgust.
“It was scandalous,” said Moyes.
“If you follow through on a player anywhere else on the pitch with your foot high, it would be a sending-off and a red card. You couldn’t do that anywhere else.
“The goalkeeper comes out, Ashley Young gets the ball before him and he follows through.
“It’s an incredible decision which didn’t go our way, in fact probably the one of the worst I think I saw.”
Moyes was also not amused with the decision by Webb to book Adnan Januzaj for diving, for the third time this season, even though the challenge from Danny Rose which preceded the fall was a pretty firm one.
“Have you seen that decision? That is a terrible decision,” said Moyes.
“Adnan has got bumped. The boy has tried to edge him off the ball.”
Like his predecessor, I expect David Moyes will be getting a call from the FA to explain his comments.
