LONDON, England, November 6- Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane accused Ashley Young of cheating on Tuesday night as the England winger won a controversial penalty in his team’s scoreless Champions League game at Real Sociedad.
Young went down under the briefest of contact from Sociedad defender Markel Bergara in the second half at Estadio de Anoeta to win a spot-kick that Robin van Persie crashed against the post.
United manager David Moyes – who has already spoken to Young about diving this season – refused to criticise the England international this time, merely saying that the referee had made the decision.
But ITV pundit Keane didn’t mince his words, saying: ‘You could say he’s obviously played for it.
“Ashley Young has obviously gone down too much over the last few months, he’s been heavily criticised in England, but of course we’re playing in a foreign country and it’s almost more acceptable.
“But I think he’s conned the referee there.”
Moyes warned Young after a dive in a Barclays Premier League game against Crystal Palace earlier this season.
But on Tuesday night the United manager said: ‘I have seen the replay. The boy tugs him in the box.
Asked whether Young’s reputation now goes before him, Moyes again refused to get involved.
“I don’t know about his reputation, but the referee is there and he gave it,” he added.
“The referee made decisions all night. He’s the one who saw fit to award a penalty and send a player off.
“I thought the referee made decisions and that was the referee’s choice.”
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli sent United midfielder Marouane Fellaini off in the last few minutes after a second booking.
The Belgian will now miss United’s vital next game in the competition at Bayer Leverkusen.
Moyes said: “I had better not comment on that decision.”
Regarding the Young issue, another former United midfielder was also scathing.
Ray Wilkins said: ‘This (dive) is pathetic. This is as bad for me as all these over the top tackles we’re getting at the moment because that is a conning of the referee.
YOUNG’S DIVE LIST OF SHAME
SEPTEMBER 14, 2013: Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
Young was booked for diving by referee Jon Moss, as he went down under a challenge from Kagisho Dikgacoi. Later in the game he won an extremely soft penalty and Dikgacoi was sent off.
David Moyes said: “I don’t want my players diving. I’ll definitely tell Ashley that’s not what I want to see.”
APRIL 15, 2012: Manchester United 4-0 Aston Villa
Against his former club Aston Villa, Young hit the deck to win a penalty which gave United a two goal lead.
Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that Young went down ‘quite easily’.
APRIL 8, 2012: Manchester United 2-0 QPR
Young went down under barely any pressure from QPR’s Shaun Derry in the area. The defender was sent off and Wayne Rooney slotted home from the spot.
After the game R’s chief Phil Beard tweeted: “Difficult to take after watching numerous replays but Ashley Young could partner Tom Daley at the Olympics.”
OCTOBER 23, 2011: Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City
In United’s 6-1 humbling in their own backyard by neighbours Manchester City, Young went down over a James Milner challenge, seemingly sticking out his leg to hit Milner and ensure there was some contact.
Sadly he won a free kick.
OCTOBER 12, 2010: England 0-0 Montenegro
Young was given a yellow card after tumbling theatrically over a challenge in the box during a goalless draw with Montenegro at Wembley. After the game Young insisted that he was fouled.
He said: ‘I felt there was a foul beforehand in the first phase of play that didn’t get given and I just couldn’t do anything to get out of the way of the player coming in.
“I thought it was a penalty but that’s the way things go. We didn’t get it and we’ve just got to get on with it.”
-By Daily Mail
