Former Premier League referee Graham Poll believes that Manchester United were lucky not to have Rafael da Silva sent off Tuesday night after Nani got red carded in the UEFA Champions League.
A few minutes after Nani received his marching orders, Poll argued that Rafael was fortunate to stay on the pitch after the ball hit his arm when a Real Madrid attempt on goal was blocked.
Poll also added that Rio Ferdinand could face disciplinary action after his sarcastic applause in front of referee Cuneyt Cakir when the match ended.
All in all, it was an ugly night for Manchester United despite a promising start. Now, though, you have to wonder whether tonight was the night when Mourinho sealed his fate as future United manager or closed the opportunity shut? What do you think? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
Here are tonight’s Premier League news headlines:
- Rafael should have been sent off after Nani red card – Graham Poll — The Mail
- Mourinho’s quick reactions pay handsome dividend for Real Madrid | Michael Cox — The Guardian
- Sir Alex Ferguson ‘distraught’ after Man Utd exit to Real Madrid — BBC Sport
- For the omitted Wayne Rooney, the writing is on the wall — The Independent
- Ronaldo’s homecoming puts Wayne Rooney firmly in the shade — The Guardian
- Defeating Liverpool will be tougher than beating Arsenal, says Tottenham’s Lloris — The Independent
- Arsenal supporters show cynicism in face of a prospective new owner — The Guardian
- Liverpool: Compare the last five years’ financial figures (data visualizations) — Liverpool Echo
- Vincent Kompany likely to be left out of Man City’s FA Cup tie — The Guardian
- Graham Poll’s view of Nani’s red card highlights England, world divide — Pro Soccer Talk
- Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph admits he has to change after 10th booking — The Guardian
- ESPN drops majority of Apple apps, citing high cost of maintenance — Sports Business Daily
- Liverpool’s Pepe Reina says investment could fuel top-four push — The Guardian
- Soccer at the Sloan MIT Sports Analytics conference: kind of depressing — Counter Attack
- Arsenal first Premier League team to play tour match in Vietnam — The Mail
The Nightly EPL is tomorrow’s news today. It’s often tomorrow morning’s British newspaper headlines that are published the night before. We do all the work for you, combing the Internet and aggregating the news for you. Read The Nightly EPL on EPL Talk every night before bed, so you can stay on top of all the news that matters.
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Dean Winchester
March 6, 2013 at 10:25 am
Graham Poll can be quiet. He has had his own run ins in the past with brandishing cards left and right. Cunyet Cakir (a name only a mother can love) stole the show. I have seen worse attempts been called for absolutely nothing. Rafael’s block was played off the shoulder, and Graham Poll can send himself off. UEFA does have an agenda with English clubs. I don’t like the continent much either. Bloody nie ties can take their French begets and shove it down their a@#@#$@#%#@%@#%. Nani did not know Arbeloa was their and played the ball. He should have let the game continue for the world to see a spectacle of football. Instead we we got “Turked” big time.
Scouse
March 6, 2013 at 6:10 am
How rich is this, United fans complaining about a ref call going against them. I tell ya what you guys truly are hypocrites.
Prinz
March 6, 2013 at 5:12 am
Cool coming from a ref who gave a player 2yellows and still allowed the same man on the pitch, #REAL CLASS
Aussie Chris
March 6, 2013 at 2:40 am
Poll! Why does anyone listen to this clown! This guy gives one player two yellow cards and lets him stay on the pitch, in a world cup no less. Fu$k3n tool! A great game ruined by another spotlight seeking Cuneyt (ey is silent in turkish obviously). And to be clear as a united fan I always thought Real would get a goal to push the match into ET so that ronnie would seal the win fairly, sad but true
Joseph
March 6, 2013 at 12:54 am
Mourinho will never coach Manchester United.
Terry
March 6, 2013 at 12:42 am
Not to worry United fans, brother Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday and he will make it all right for you. The double is still on.
De Selby
March 5, 2013 at 11:57 pm
At least all the debate about the red card seems to have distracted people from how bad Gus Johnson sucks. And that Warren Barton also blows.
Jason
March 5, 2013 at 11:40 pm
Calls go against teams all the time. It’s nothing new. While one might disagree with the referee’s decision, one can also see why the referee might have given it. This is not a case of a deliberate handball not seen or a handball given when it wasn’t.
The bigger question for United fans is why weasn’t the team able to hold on to the lead, even with 10 men, at home? Why play to protect the advantage when you’re at home? I think United’s defensive tactics and allowing Real Madrid to control the game and have all that possession had more to do with them losing than the sending off.
Red10
March 5, 2013 at 11:27 pm
I think everyone knows what a muppet Poll is. Remember he retired after his world cup fail. Now he needs to make some money by grabbing more headlines. At least he was as horrible a referee as that c*nt from tonights match.
Frill Artist
March 5, 2013 at 11:24 pm
Witch hunt.
Nelson
March 5, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Why would Jose Mourino be giving himself a shut door on managing United? He did nothing to warrant such speculation. Very odd article.
Red10
March 5, 2013 at 11:30 pm
mourinho does not deserve to manage at United ever! He’s still a small minded little man that relies on referees to help his team win. funny how often that happens, in a time rife with match fixing as well….
I wouldn’t him at United for the simple reason that he has absolutely no longevity in any club and when he leaves he tends to employ a slash and burn tactic with the club.
Matt
March 6, 2013 at 12:30 am
“man that relies on referees to help his team win”
According to you he is perfect for United
Wongo1
March 5, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Poll has been and alway will be an attention seeker. Watch the play again and see that it did not hit Rafael in the arm idiot.
Doug
March 5, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Nani shouldn’t have been sent off in the first place, that should be the real story. Unbelievable officiating I wish fergie gave him the hair dryer treatment… A disgraceful night for the official
Ole20
March 5, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Are you kidding me? What an absolute muppet him! Nani had no intent to commit a foul and was wrongly punished. Shit ref.
Johnbo
March 5, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Can you point me to the rule that governs “intent to commit a foul” and how it’s relevant?
david
March 6, 2013 at 12:11 am
Referees guidebook states there must be ‘reckless intent’ for a red card to be given. The player must also be ‘out of control’. Luis Nani wasn’t aware of the player (unless you argue he has eyes on the back of his head), and he most certainly wasn’t out of control.
brn442
March 6, 2013 at 1:18 am
It was probably a harsh red but perhaps the ref was aware of something going on between Nani and Abeloa beforehand, we don’t know about.
Wongo1
March 6, 2013 at 9:51 am
Brn442 when even the player that was kicked showed shock at the red I think you can rest assume that there was nothing going on. Ramos went to the ref to get Nani booked waving an imaginary card but he too was shocked at the red.
Stop being a blind fan of another team that simply hates United, it was a huge f up by the ref end of. As a United fan I will not call for his head, I take it on the chin and move on period.
Burgos
March 5, 2013 at 9:19 pm
Ramos had an arm ball in the box as well.
Frill Artist
March 5, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Yes but he plays for Real Madrid so he should not be carded. We should strive not to card Real Madrid players.
Rob
March 6, 2013 at 3:51 am
That’s pretty rich coming from a manc
Jamie
March 6, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Yep, this is the funny thing about yesterday’s decision. Now Manchester United knows how everyone else feels about… Manchester United. Sucks donnit?
randall
March 8, 2013 at 6:09 pm
so poll says the ball hit his arm.So thats ball to hand and not hand to ball.OK so that means its not handball.