Harry Redknapp slams referee Mark Clattenburg over Nani goal
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes referee Mark Clattenburg had a "nightmare" after allowing Nani's controversial goal to stand during yesterday's 2-0 defeat against Manchester United.
The Portuguese winger slotted the ball into the empty net after Clattenburg had apparently waved play on, despite Nani clearly handling the ball inside the Tottenham penalty area.
After several minutes of discussion with his assistant on the touchline, Clattenburg allowed the Red Devils' controversial second goal to stand – much to the anger of the Spurs players and manager.
"The whole thing was a farce," Redknapp said. "It was handball. Nani put his hand on it and dragged it down.
"Mark Clattenburg is a top referee but he has had a nightmare with that."
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that the incident was rather unusual, but felt the blame had to be pinned on Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, rather than the referee.
"It was bizarre," the United boss confessed. "No-one knew at the time what was wrong. One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and next it's in his net.
"Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said 'play on', so what can he do but put the ball in the net?
"You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He's an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it."
Despite his post-match frustration, Redknapp revealed that he wouldn't be launching an official protest.
"It's gone now," he added. "In the end Clattenburg will come up with some excuse as to why he didn't see it - he couldn't see, he let play go on - well if he did that he should have been saying to Gomes 'play on, play on'.
"I haven't spoken to the referee, he's not going to change his decision and he's made a mess of it all now anyway. They'll go in and come up with a story that will make it all look right, that's what happens."
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