Fergie blasts ref after FA cup disappointment

Mar 9 2008 Wales On Sunday

SIR Alex Ferguson blasted referee Martin Atkinson and his boss Keith Hackett after Manchester United’s treble dream went up in smoke yesterday.

Sulley Muntari handed Portsmouth a shock FA Cup quarter-final win from the penalty spot to secure his side’s place at the Wembley semis.

United wasted more than enough chances to win the match but manager Ferguson chose to vent his fury at Atkinson and took at swipe at Hackett, who is in charge of officials.

Ferguson felt United had a blatant penalty denied when Cristiano Ronaldo was blocked by Sylvain Distin.

But Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp insisted Distin did nothing wrong.

The turning point of the game came in the 77th minute when Portsmouth were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak – who had replaced Edwin van der Sar at the break – tripped Milan Baros.

Kuszczak was sent off and replaced by skipper Rio Ferdinand. However, the defender was given no chance with Muntari’s cool spot-kick.

It is the third time Redknapp beat United in the FA Cup.

He did it first for minnows Bournemouth in 1984 and again with West Ham in 2001.

This is the first time the veteran boss has advanced beyond the quarter-finals but said: “I am not getting too carried away. I have had a number of beatings from United over the years.

“I was hoping Sulley would just hit the target as I knew Rio at West Ham and he is not the best goalkeeper.

“It is marvellous for our supporters and the club that we are going to Wembley for the semis. It probably means more to our fans than those of Manchester United as you can get a bit blase about these things.”