Date: 3rd May 2011 at 8:21pm
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There was a jubilant cry from Manchester United’s fans when it was announced that Howard Webb would be the referee for the Premier League ‘title decider’ between Chelsea and the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Sunday. At the same time, Blues fans have been venting their displeasure of Webb’s appointment as it’s perceived to be a favourable appointment for the home side.

 

Webb certainly has a history of awarding Manchester United favourable decisions:

Man United 3-1 Man City , January 2010 Rio Ferdinand catches Carlos Tevez in the face with his arm, should have received a red card, but failed to punish the United defender.

Man United 2-1 Liverpool, March 2010 Javier Mascherano fouled Antonio Valencia outside the box, but Webb instead awards a penalty.

Man United 3-2 Liverpool, September 2010 Liverpool received two fortuitous decisions during this encounter to get back into the game, both decisions (a penalty and a free-kick that Steven Gerrard scored from) were made by the assistant Darren Cann. But Webb failed to give John O’Shea his marching orders after tugging Fernando Torres back as the last man.

Man United 1-0 Arsenal, December 2010 Wayne Rooney woefully blazes a penalty over the bar after the home side are awarded a penalty for a phantom handball by Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy.

Ferdinand studs Bacary Sagna hip and Darren Fletcher later pushes Webb, neither were reprimanded.

Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool, January 2011 Dimitar Berbatov cons Webb with an early dive in the box, which Ryan Giggs converted and proved to be the winning goal.

Steven Gerrard was also sent off during the game, but it was deserved for a stupid lunging challenge.

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And that’s just his last five visits. Webb has been accused of being a United fan many times in the past, most famously by ex-Liverpool winger Ryan Babel, who posted a mocked-up picture of the World Cup final ref in Manchester United’s colours…

Webb has given Manchester United three penalties in his last four trips to Old Trafford, none of which should have been, but what can Chelsea fans expect from the official on Sunday?

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