Rio Ferdinand will not face disciplinary action from UEFA for sarcastically applauding Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The Manchester United defender confronted Cakir after his decision to send off Nani during the Champions League last-16 match against Real Madrid which United lost 2-1 for a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
After receiving the referee's report however, UEFA will take no action against Ferdinand.
A UEFA spokesman said: "From the report we have received from the referee, we will not take any action apart from the disciplinary proceedings against Manchester United for the red card of Nani and for post-match media obligations not being fulfilled."
In 2005, Wayne Rooney was sent off after being shown a second yellow card when he sarcastically applauded referee Kim Milton Nielsen during a 1-1 draw against Spanish side Villarreal in the Champions League.
UEFA's disciplinary body will assess whether Nani's red card for a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa was worthy of punishment beyond an automatic one-match ban.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to speak to any media following the match, which breaches the obligations set out in UEFA's Champions League regulations. No United player spoke to the media either, which also contravenes the competition rules.
UEFA's rules on post-match media obligations state: "Both clubs must make their manager/head coach available for this press conference.
"All players of both teams are obliged to pass through the mixed zone in order to conduct interviews with the media. Players must fulfil interview requests from audiovisual rights holders before conducting interviews for their club media platforms."
what do you think?
austin.samara
Man u is a huge club that has respect from all over the world. manager and overpaid players behave like hooligans. They should be punished for their behaviour Ferguson and players are the problem for this great club. It is time most of them to leave
brian foster
Fool it is the manager and players that make Manchester United the best supported club in the WORLD.
geoffthetaxi .
the respect campaign is going well
Diane Rogers
So he has got way with his behavior. No respect for officials what do we expect when his manager has none for officals either.
Martin Massey
The same way they let suarez off with stamping!!!!!
Diane Rogers
What has Suarez got to do with Ferdinand showing the ref no respect.
Mark Davies
How did he get away with it....we all watched the end of the game....tut tut UEFA
Andy Roe
Can be only two reasons for that decision. 1, His name is Rio Ferdinand. 2, He plays for Manchester United.
Martin Massey
3 Liverpool fans don't make the decisions!!! sado
steven
I think clowns like ferdinand should remember that he was paid for a long time when he was banned for failing to do a drugs test. Here we are again, petulant schoolboy behaviour and they call themselves professionals.
Steve Marshall
3:58pm on 7/3/2013
How the hell are we as football coaches suppose to install the "RESPECT CAMPAIGN" when top players disrespect the ref blatantly.
Martin Massey
8:50am on 8/3/2013
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Steve Marshall
12:59pm on 8/3/2013
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Steve Marshall
1:54pm on 8/3/2013
It's not ok to DIVE, SPIT, SWEAR, STAMP, KICK OR DISRESPECT REF AND OFFICIALS, I can tell by your last comment that you are very jealous of Liverpool, I don't know why cos utd have been so successful in the last 20yrs, maybe you need to mature a bit and wind your neck in fella.