Man Utd - Hard Done By or Whingers?

It was billed as a game that "the world would stop for" by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and built up as the heavyweight match to end all heavyweight matches by pundits across the world. With megastars on show from Robin Van Persie, Xabi Alonso, Wayne Rooney and of course the enigmatic returning to Old Trafford of "CR7", Cristiano Ronaldo. Who would be the man to step up to the plate? Who would turn heads and grace the world stage with the awe-inspiring performance their team required? Who would be the man to steal the headlines?

The Answer? Step forward the Referee : Cuneyt Cakir.

Above any of the superstars on show, I'm fairly sure the Turkish referee would be the last name on the minds of the millions watching to be the man to steal the show. Known by Chelsea fans as that man who sent off John Terry in the semi-finals last season, Cakir is considered one of the best referees in world football. Having officiated in the semi-finals of both the Champions League and Euro 2012 last season, he has developed into one of the most respected officials in the game. Last night, that respect almost blew up in his face on the brandishing of a red card in the direction of Portuguese winger Nani, for a challenge that has become one of the most fiercely debated challenges in football history.

So, what happened? The ball was cleared upfield towards Nani on the left wing, who watched the ball the WHOLE WAY on to his foot, as he stretched out his leg to bring the ball under control. This detail is important. He had no idea whatsoever that Alvaro Arbeloa was about to jump forwards towards the same ball, as Nani's foot collided with the body of Arbeloa. Both players went down, (I do think Nani was overreacting here), but as Nani got back up, the referee showed him a red card. In an act that shocked everyone in the stadium, (even the Madrid players) and indeed everyone watching at home, Cuneyt Cakir sent off the United winger, and with it, changed the dynamic of the game in such a way that it cost United the victory and a passage into the next round.

What is the argument? The argument FOR the red card is that it was considered "dangerous play". On what universe is bringing a high ball under control considered "dangerous play"? You see it 10 or 15 times in every match, but just because Arbeloa jumped into his foot, Nani should be the one that is penalised for it? That makes no sense whatsoever. I've listened to and contemplated the argument in defence of the referee and I have come to the conclusion that he was wrong. Very, very wrong. What's more, everyone knew it. I'll come to that bit later.

The arguments AGAINST Cakir's decision are endless. It was in no way an intentional attempt to hurt Arbeloa as Nani didn't even know he was there. It wasn't a challenge with excessive force as he was merely trying to bring the ball under control. Although it's difficult to tell, you could argue that not much contact was made with Arbeloa. It wasn't contact with the ribcage as people were suggesting at least. What's more, officials are told to avoid making decisions that make a negative impact. Regardless of whether you agree with the decision or not, the impact on the match was certainly one that will not be easily forgotten. The phrase, "dangerous play" has been used a lot in defence of Cakir. Real Madrid goalkeeper, Diego Lopez, punched Nemanja Vidic in the head as he came out to clear a ball earlier in the match. Is that not dangerous play? Of course, he didn't mean to do it, but neither did Nani? What's the difference? How do you define this new phrase that has cropped up out of obscurity? How far do you take it?

Over the years, I have seen Sir Alex Ferguson angry. His rages are legendary. His slanging matches with 4th officials across the land are stuff of legend but NEVER have I seen him actively encourage the crowd to get on the referee's back and criticise. NEVER have I seen Sir Alex "too distraught" to face the media afterwards. NEVER have I seen a manager with such success behind him, left completely speechless at a decision that has shocked the footballing world. As his assistant, Mike Phelan said, "I think it speaks volumes that the manager of this football club can't talk about the game tonight". That is not the Sir Alex Ferguson that we all know.

But of course, as with most contentious decisions, the backlash from the club that feels hard done by is pretty standard. What you don't see very often however is a sombre reaction from the opposition. The opponents who gained an advantage from a terrible piece of refereeing. Real Madrid are a side that have history with pressurising referees and criticising officials. It is pretty common in La Liga to surround the referee when they think a bad challenge has been made. There was none of that last night. There were no protestations from Real players, let alone calls for a red card. The behaviour of Real Madrid's manager, the ever-present Jose Mourinho told you all you need to know. He hugged Sir Alex as the final whistle approached, in a way that suggested he thought United had been cheated. He held his hand up to the crowd as he disappeared down the tunnel in an admission of guilt at the way his side had won the tie. He even admitted in his post-match interview that, "the best team lost", and even his players' celebrations on the pitch were muted, because they all knew.

They all knew the game had been changed. And changed wrongly.

The game was set up perfectly. As a fan of football, the last 30 minutes were set up to be a must-watch encounter. Real Madrid needed to find a goal against a dogged United defence. To see who would come out on top in a classic attack vs defence scenario, between two of the best sides in the world, would have been fascinating to watch. As a lover of the game, that opportunity was taken away by an official who got it very, very wrong.

I'm not even going to enter the debate about Roy Keane's point of view on ITV afterwards. For a man who purposely entered a football pitch one day to simply end another professional's career, I cannot and will not take his opinion that "it was dangerous and he deserved it", seriously. That is simply hypocrisy at its greatest and ugliest heights.

I find it interesting that the majority of people defending the referee are referees themselves. I merely think this is an act of "referees defending referees", because I used to do the same. But if challenges like this are being greeted with dismissals, the sport of football that I once knew has descended into a complete farce. I can almost guarantee that a similar challenge will occur in the next few weeks that won't even be awarded with a free-kick, and there will be uproar from fans who criticise the lack of consistency in today's game. It's getting harder and harder to ignore the differences in decision-making and its getting harder and harder to defend the performance of officials. I am not annoyed because it cost United the game. I am annoyed because it ruined the spectacle of what should have been a glorious night for the increasingly troubled sport of football.

But instead, we are left debating the performance of the one man who's performance shouldn't be in the spotlight. Then I wonder how long this can last, before people give up altogether.