Berbatov: Penalty decision correct

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov insisted he did not ‘dive’ when he earned the decisive penalty against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Berbatov was fouled by Daniel Agger in the opening minute of play at Old Trafford, and referee Howard Webb had no hesitation in pointing to the spot in United’s 1-0 third-round win on Sunday.

Replays showed that minimal contact was made by Agger on the Bulgarian striker, but the leading scorer in the English Premier League this season said he felt it was a deserved penalty.

“Of course it was a penalty. There was contact, enough to make me lose my balance and fall on the ground. People who know me know I don’t go down that easily so I think it was a fair decision,” he told ITV Sport.

Welshman Ryan Giggs converted the penalty past Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, but the scorer said he did not see the foul that earned his side the penalty, but implied that the angry reaction from Reds players told the story.

“I didn’t see it, but the players’ reactions usually say a lot and the players around weren’t too happy, but you’ve just got to get on with them decisions,” Giggs said.