Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane
believes referee Cuneyt Cakir "made the right
call" when he sent off Nani in Tuesday night's
Champions League battle with Real Madrid at Old
Trafford.
Irate United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was seething
with rage as the last-16 tie was transformed by
the contentious decision of the Turkish official to
dismiss Nani for his high challenge on Alvaro
Arbeloa in the 56th minute at a moment when
the home side were in the ascendancy.
Following Nani's departure, United led a 1-0 lead
slip to lose 2-1 on the night, but Keane had little
sympathy for the banished Portuguese winger.
"The referee has made the right call," Keane told
ITV Sport. "It's dangerous play, it's a red card. He
knows there are other footballers on the pitch and
to be fair to the referee, he took a few minutes,
spoke to his assistant and decided it was a red
card.
"I don't think the referee made the decision
because he waited a couple of minutes while one
of the players was getting treatment and I think it
was the assistant that made the call. Whatever
people are getting upset about it, but I think he
made the right call.
"Any time I got sent off in my career, I always
thought, 'Did I give the referee a chance to send
me off?' If the answer is yes, then it is out of your
hands. Everyone is upset about it and United are
slightly unlucky to go out, but it's dangerous
play. Whether he meant it or not is irrelevant. It
was dangerous play, red card.
"Whether the referee was brave or not, it was the
right decision. Let's not forget that Nani is quick
to go down, he is not always the bravest boy."
Keane went on to praise Real Madrid match-
winner Cristiano Ronaldo as "an £80 million snip"
as he marked his return to Old Trafford with the
goal that secured his team a place in the
Champions League quarter-finals.
"It looked like a lot of money when Real Madrid
paid £80 million for Ronaldo, but he looks like a
snip now," Keane added. "What a fantastic
player. He didn't have his best game against
United, but he was fantastic."
believes referee Cuneyt Cakir "made the right
call" when he sent off Nani in Tuesday night's
Champions League battle with Real Madrid at Old
Trafford.
Irate United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was seething
with rage as the last-16 tie was transformed by
the contentious decision of the Turkish official to
dismiss Nani for his high challenge on Alvaro
Arbeloa in the 56th minute at a moment when
the home side were in the ascendancy.
Following Nani's departure, United led a 1-0 lead
slip to lose 2-1 on the night, but Keane had little
sympathy for the banished Portuguese winger.
"The referee has made the right call," Keane told
ITV Sport. "It's dangerous play, it's a red card. He
knows there are other footballers on the pitch and
to be fair to the referee, he took a few minutes,
spoke to his assistant and decided it was a red
card.
"I don't think the referee made the decision
because he waited a couple of minutes while one
of the players was getting treatment and I think it
was the assistant that made the call. Whatever
people are getting upset about it, but I think he
made the right call.
"Any time I got sent off in my career, I always
thought, 'Did I give the referee a chance to send
me off?' If the answer is yes, then it is out of your
hands. Everyone is upset about it and United are
slightly unlucky to go out, but it's dangerous
play. Whether he meant it or not is irrelevant. It
was dangerous play, red card.
"Whether the referee was brave or not, it was the
right decision. Let's not forget that Nani is quick
to go down, he is not always the bravest boy."
Keane went on to praise Real Madrid match-
winner Cristiano Ronaldo as "an £80 million snip"
as he marked his return to Old Trafford with the
goal that secured his team a place in the
Champions League quarter-finals.
"It looked like a lot of money when Real Madrid
paid £80 million for Ronaldo, but he looks like a
snip now," Keane added. "What a fantastic
player. He didn't have his best game against
United, but he was fantastic."