Sir Alex praises Ron protection

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised the referee of the Champions League match between Manchester United and Villarreal, after Roberto Rosetti sent off Joan Capdevilla for fouling Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson said: "The referee was very fair and strict with both teams. He [Capdevila] may not have got that red card in England - so there is different interpretation of the physical aspect of the game in European matches.'

"The systematic fouling on him is what is happening in our game [Premier League] now. That is a tactic. Someone fouls him, then someone else has another foul. The referee thinks he is diving all the time, and the crowd are screaming. So that is the proble