Giggs: It was a Penalty

Ryan Giggs last night came down on the side of his team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting that the 'dive' that Cristiano Ronaldo got booked for should have been a penalty!

When Cristiano first came over here, he arrived with the European mentality of going down at every challenge to waste time and hope for bookings for the opposition. His time in England has changed that, and now he is big enough and strong enough not to go down with every challenge.

"I think he is paying for his reputation," said Giggs. "He did have a reputation (for diving) when he first came over here but that has gone now.

"It is hard for the referee. Everything happens quickly, Ronny is running so fast and he has to make a split second decision.

"Maybe he didn't give it because there was no contact. But Ronny was trying to avoid the goalkeeper and the keeper's arms followed his legs. In my view that is not simulation.

"Everyone thinks it is a penalty and if the referee looks back on it he will maybe feel he has made a mistake."

Visit the Rio Ferdinand Fan Site