LONDON - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson leapt to the defence of his captain, Roy Keane, yesterday after the controversial midfielder was sent off in the 1-1 premier league draw at Sunderland.
Keane, the former Ireland skipper, engaged in a running feud with compatriot Jason McAteer during the second half at
the Stadium of Light and, in injury time, appeared to elbow the Sunderland player.
"I do not think he swung an elbow at him," Ferguson said.
"He certainly put his arm across [McAteer's] face ... I don't think there's any doubt about that, but if the referee thinks that's an ordering-off offence, then I don't know what you can do about it."
When asked if he would stand by Keane, Ferguson said: "If people see [the incident] themselves they will judge for themselves ... I think it was an innocuous incident."
The Scot was unhappy with McAteer's reaction to the clash, suggesting United might appeal against the red card branded by referee Uriah Rennie.
"We need to review the whole thing, go through it bit by bit ... slow [the television replays] down as much as we possibly can to see the actual offence that was supposed to have been committed. But my gut feeling is that it was very soft."
Ferguson criticised Rennie for not taking action against McAteer when he fouled Keane earlier in the second half.
"[Keane] was just kicked from the back and I think that boiled the game up a bit."
"[Roy's] disappointed with McAteer's quick response. He went down as if he had been shot in the back of the head. But that's an unfortunate part of football nowadays.
"He will get incredible headlines about it just because it is Roy."
The undercurrent to Keane's clash with McAteer was provided by Keane's autobiography - published on Friday - in which he criticises McAteer.
Keane, who stormed out of Ireland's World Cup squad in May just before the tournament, was unhappy with McAteer's conduct during that controversy.
As United pressed for a winner in yesterday's game, the tension rose and Keane's frustrations did likewise. McAteer did himself little credit with his reaction, but it will be Keane's actions that are scrutinised the most.
The bottom line for Ferguson and United is that, with Keane's ninth red card of his Old Trafford career, they have been plunged into another unnecessary crisis by the 31-year-old.
If Keane is officially charged and found guilty, he faces a suspension - on top of the three-game ban he will automatically serve for picking up a straight red card yesterday.
New signing Tore Andre Flo's goal midway through the second half equalised Ryan Giggs' early goal for the visitors.
Leeds United had plenty of work to do this season if they were to live up to expectations, manager Terry Venables said after his side were beaten 2-1 by Birmingham City.
After losing 1-0 in midweek to Sunderland, Leeds slumped to another defeat after showing only flashes of their true potential against a gritty City side at St Andrews.
"A lot of good things - but we've got to do more of them in the 90 minutes," was Venables' verdict after his side were sunk by fine goals from Paul Devlin and Damien Johnson.
Leeds had equalised briefly through Lee Bowyer.
New league leaders Tottenham Hotspur also had a battle on their hands at White Hart Lane, but came through for a 2-1 win over Southampton, thanks to skipper Teddy Sheringham's 90th-minute penalty.
Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan plans to appeal to the FA over a 28th-minute red card handed out to Shaun Wright-Phillips in their 3-1 victory over Everton.
"I have no argument with the penalty, but I thought the sending off was harsh," said Keegan, whose victory was sealed with a hat-trick from new French striker Nicolas Anelka.
There was cheer for Alan Curbishley after his Charlton Athletic side soaked up plenty of pressure to run out 2-0 winners at West Ham United.
* Dundee United's second-half substitute Allan Smart lasted just nine minutes before being sent off for a reckless challenge as the Dundee derby ended in a goalless draw in the Scottish premier league.
Smart was shown the red card for his studs-up lunge at defender Jonay Hernandez in the 75th minute, but the visitors were unable to make their numerical advantage count at United's Tannadice.
Despite the point, Dundee United slipped to last place.
Hibernian midfielder Derek Townsley returned to haunt his old club Motherwell with a brace to give the struggling Easter Rd men a 2-0 win, their first victory of the season.
Early today, Livingstone hosted defending champions Celtic, Dunfermline played Rangers and Aberdeen met Partick Thistle.
- AGENCIES
LONDON - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson leapt to the defence of his captain, Roy Keane, yesterday after the controversial midfielder was sent off in the 1-1 premier league draw at Sunderland.
Keane, the former Ireland skipper, engaged in a running feud with compatriot Jason McAteer during the second half at
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