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Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Luis Nani should have been a awarded a penalty kick before the Portuguese winger clinched a controversial second goal as United beat Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday evening…

Nemanja Vidic put The Reds into the lead thanks to his noggin’, 60 minutes before Luis Nani scored a controversial second goal to defeat Spurs at a packed Theatre Of Dreams. Referee Mark Clattenburg waved-away a penalty claim before Nani handled the ball to pick it up for the spot kick that wasn’t awarded.

Tottenham goalie Heurelho Gomes then placed the ball 18 yards away from where Nani handled, thinking the referee had given his side a free-kick for the handball. However, the whistle was never sounded and so Nani got up and slid the ball past past Gomes to secure the game, moving The Reds back into joint second.

Speaking after the game to MUTV, Sir Alex said: “At the time I had absolutely no idea what had happened. We appealed for the penalty and didn’t get it and as Nani fell the ball hit his hand and went into the goalkeeper’s arms. At that point the goalkeeper’s got control of the ball and the referee said to play on.”

“The linesman didn’t flag until after the goal was scored and I’ve still no idea why. The referee didn’t blow his whistle at all and Nani actually looked at him to check. He said play on, so Nani put the ball in the net.” Sir Alex s explained. “The goalkeeper should know better. He’s an experienced player and made a bit of a mess of it. You’ve got to play to the whistle, but he put the ball down thinking he was going to take a free-kick and, of course, it wasn’t.”

“The goal should definitely have stood because the referee has playedon. It’s the linesman and goalkeeper who have made the biggest mistakes.” added the boss.