MANU Ryan rues referee error

wlt1110

Ryan Giggs claims a refereeing mistake denied him the chance to become the FA Cup's most successful modern player.

The Welshman seemed to be on the verge of his fifth winner's medal - one more than anyone since the 1800's - when he slid in to meet Wayne Rooney's cross in extra-time.

Giggs made contact with the ball, only for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech to smother it and apparently deny the officials a clear view of whether it had crossed the line or not. However, the United winger was in no doubt a goal should have been given his way.

Ryan said: "I said to the ref, 'You saw it go over and the linesman saw it go over'. If we had got that goal we might well have gone on to win the game."

Cech admitted the ball had gone over his line but claimed: "It would have been a foul anyway.

"When I made the initial save the ball had not crossed the line, then Ryan Giggs slid in, kicked me in the face and pushed me further back."

As United captain in the absence of Gary Neville, Giggs had the dubious distinction of being the first FA Cup final skipper to lead his team up the 107 steps at the new Wembley, albeit to collect nothing but runners-up medals. But he insisted there was still plenty to feel positive about following a long, hard and - in the Premiership certainly - successful 10-month campaign.

"The consolation is that we won the Premiership, we are an improving team and we can look forward to next season with confidence," Giggs concluded.