Fergie does nothing about it because he fully shared Rooney’s view that every single unfavourable decision a referee makes is wrong. In fact he probably sees Rooney as his on-field diplomat.

Similary Cristiano would get a lot more protection from referees if he didn’t roll his eyes and pout every time he doesn’t get a decision in his favour. When he does that the referees naturally assume he is a drama queen so are less likely to help him out.

Something really needs to be done though with the referees. We are in an elite football league with millions of dollars pumped in and tens of millions watching every match. Yet the refereeing is amateurish, inconsistent and sometimes laughable.

If the EPL is to move away from its roughhouse reputation we need to punish the hardmen who scyth down the skillful players.