MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi of "conning" referee Rob Styles after two-goal Cristiano Ronaldo was booked for diving with a hat trick at his mercy during Manchester United's 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, who had sealed victory for United with a first-half volley and second-half header, looked on course for his first United hat trick when he bore down on Niemi with eleven minutes left to play.

But the Portuguese forward fell to the ground following a rash challenge by the Fulham goalkeeper and a penalty seemed inevitable - until referee Rob Styles waved away the penalty appeals and booked Ronaldo for diving.

An angry Ferguson said: "The penalty incident is a result of a perceived idea of the referee that Ronaldo dives, there is no question of that.

"But in fairness to the referee in this case, the goalkeeper conned the referee. Without question, the goalkeeper got Ronaldo booked. His reaction immediately suggested that Ronaldo had dived, but it was the wrong decision.

"Why would he dive? He is through, has gone round the goalkeeper and is on a hat-trick, so there is no reason to dive. It was unbelievable. He was one-on-one with the keeper and he was running at full pelt and he caught him with both hands. It was unfair that Ronaldo got booked for it.

"Ronaldo is paying for his reputation, but he is nothing like that now. He is a mature and magnificent footballer and he has been unfairly treated."

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