Unjustified Nani Red Card Mars Real Madrid Win over Manchester United

Manchester United have been knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, but only after Luis Nani was unjustifiably sent off for a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Portuguese was sensationally sent off by the same referee who sent John Terry off last season against Barcelona.

Before the dismissal, United were controlling the game and frustrated Real Madrid, and in particular Cristiano Ronaldo. Sir Alex Ferguson's team, without Wayne Rooney, who was amazingly dropped to the bench, controlled midfield and forced Madrid to attack down the flanks until the sending off.

Ryan Giggs rolled back the years to produce one of his best ever performances for the Red Devils, who had heroes all over the pitch.

The changing point in the game was the shock decision by Cuneyt Cakir to send off Nani in the 56th minute.

There can be no doubt that Nani's challenge on Arbeloa was a foul. He caught the ex-Liverpool full-back high as he jumped to control the ball. However, there was absolutely no malice in the tackle, unlike Nigel De Jong's famous Kung-Fu challenge on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final in 2010.

Breaking down Nani's challenge on Arbeloa, it can clearly be seen that the Portuguese only has eyes for the ball as it is played over his shoulder. He leaps to control the ball and at that point Arbeloa jumps and comes into his peripheral vision.

Nani, never known as a physical player, then tries to pull out of the challenge, but makes contact with Arbeloa's midriff. His cause to stay on the pitch was not helped by Arbeloa's rolling around on the ground in the aftermath.

With everyone expecting a yellow card to be issued, the footballing world was shocked to see Cakir issue a straight red card to the United winger.

Sir Alex Ferguson immediately raced to the pitch side in protest as an amazed Jose Mourinho looked on, but the damage had been done and Nani was off.

The sending off is made all the more hard to bear and understand for United fans, as Arbeloa shouldn't have been on the pitch at the time. Midway through the first half, the left-back was beaten to the ball by Patrice Evra, who danced around him only for the Madrid man to catch Evra high above the knee with a real coward's tackle.

With United down to 10 men, Jose Mourinho made a fantastic substitution by introducing Luka Modric. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur playmaker immediately took up residence in midfield and controlled the tempo of the game as United's 10 men chased shadows.

Within 10 minutes of his introduction, he had scored a wonder goal and influenced Cristiano Ronaldo's eventual winner.

From there, the game was as good as over, and there can be no doubt that Nani's unjustified dismissal was the root of United's defeat.

After the game when he was asked about the incident, Jose Mourinho acknowledged that his fellow countryman should've never been sent off.

"

The best team lost. We are happy to have qualified, but I expected more from my team. When your keeper is your best player, it shows you are not controlling the game as you should.

We didn't play well, but football is like this.

"

The red card puts a black tint on Real Madrid's victory. Jose Mourinho, a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, recognized this, as will the entire football world.

Nani didn't deserve to be sent off, and this decision has not only ended his team's participation in the Champions League, It may have also ended Sir Alex Ferguson's best chance to win the trophy ever again.