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Monday, 4 March, 2002, 14:03 GMT
FA backs referee Dunn
Referee Steve Dunn has won backing from the FA
The Football Association has defended referee Steve Dunn
following his controversial decision to deny Derby County a winner in the Premiership game with Manchester United.
Dunn disallowed Malcolm Christie's late strike in the 2-2 draw at Pride Park after ruling the forward had kicked the ball out of the grasp of United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson joined Derby counterpart John Gregory in insisting the goal should have been given.
Ferguson admitted that United were lucky not to have been beaten by Derby on Sunday. An FA statement read: "Following referee Steve Dunn's decision to disallow Malcolm Christie's goal against Manchester United yesterday, he has been heavily criticised in certain quarters. "However, the FA would like to make it clear the referee was perfectly correct to take such action under the laws of the game. "They clearly state, `The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hand or arms. "`Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball but does not include the circumstances where, in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper - for example, after he has made a save.' "The referee, was therefore, correct." "I thought Christie's goal might have been all right and I think it should have stood," Ferguson said. "But the referee was shocking throughout," added the United manager.
"He should have given us two penalties in the first half and made some really bad decisions. "I think we will have to review full-time referees." His Derby counterpart John Gregory agreed with that sentiment and did not mince his words in describing Dunn's performance. "The referee bottled it," said Gregory. "If that had happened in front of the Stretford End, I don't think he would have disallowed it." Gregory was also aggrieved that Derby had had a penalty appeal turned down minutes before Christie's disallowed effort. "Barthez punched Malcolm in the back of the head," said the Derby boss. Ferguson praised the commitment of Derby but felt United should have secured victory earlier in the game. "We had enough chances to win it but their keeper (Andy Oakes) had a fantastic match and Derby fought like tigers while we lost concentration in the last 20 minutes." Despite his frustratration, Gregory said that to get a point was "a great result" against the Premiership champions. "We hung in there against possibly the best side in the world."
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