RAFA: FERGIE INFLUENCED WEBB

Rafa Benitez claimed Sir Alex Ferguson influenced referee Howard Webb's decision to award Manchester United a penalty in their 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Webb gave the penalty after Javier Mascherano brought Luis Antonio Valencia down, despite the foul appearing to begin a few yards outside the area.

Benitez believed Valencia dived, and pointed to Ferguson's complaints about the Football Association being 'dysfunctional' over their disciplinary policy.

"We know about the influence of Sir Alex in everything," Benitez said.

"I've seen three replays and the last one was suspicious. See the replay for yourself and how he fell to the ground."

Asked whether he thought Valencia had dived Benitez said: "From the replay I think so.

"It is not clear but the way he fell down.....is strange.

"It made a big difference. We were playing well and had confidence and then one situation changed everything."

Asked if he thought Ferguson's comments about the FA on Friday had an influence, Benitez said:

"Just on Friday he said something? Which Friday? This Friday or every Friday? Or every Friday of every year?

"When you have different opinions you have to express those different opinions. As you know, he has his own opinion about everything."

Predictably enough, Ferguson had a rather different view.

"I thought it was a red card," he said.

"There was no way Carragher could get across and stop Valencia from shooting - he is took quick for Carragher to get across.

"The law is if you stop someone from having a goalscoring opportunity it is a red card. Not today.

"The referee was right, he tugged him down. He didn't bring him down outside the box; he didn't go down until he was inside the box. The decision was correct."

source football365.com