Rio Ferdinand faces a 48-hour wait to find out if he faces UEFA action for sarcastically clapping referee Cuneyt Cakir in the aftermath of Manchester United’s Champions League exit last night.

Cakir caused controversy by sending off Nani in the 56th minute for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa, and Madrid went on to win the match 2-1.

At full-time, Rio Ferdinand led a group of United players – including Patrice Evra, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick – in an ambush of Cakir, and took charge by sarcastically and exaggeratedly applauding in his face, before storming off.

Ferdinand obviously realised his mistake, as he later returned to shake Cakir’s hand, but he could still face a UEFA sanction for his actions.

Cakir and the UEFA match delegate have a 48-hour deadline to submit their match report to the governing body, and then it will be revealed if Ferdinand will face any ban.

As he waited on a possible sanction, Ferdinand took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the game.

'I must say last night our fans done us + our club proud. Best/loudest support I've heard at ANY ground throughout my career. Thank you,' posted Ferdinand, who also posted that he hadn't slept after the game.

To save further controversy, Ferdinand and his team-mates were banned from talking to the media after the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson was so incensed at the decision that he, too, refused to speak after the match.

The red card decision divided opinion, but Ferdinand’s display of petulance may not be overlooked.

United are weighing up whether to appeal the ban following Nani's sending off, preventing the Portuguese winger from playing in the opening games of European competition next season

If UEFA decide to take Ferdinand to task, they would not have the same amount of support for defending an immature display from one of the most senior players on the pitch.

Former Manchester City and England forward Rodney Marsh believes Ferdinand should have faced punishment for his display.

‘Clapping in a dissentful manner in the referees face is automatic red card in international football. Rio should have got red,’ posted Marsh on his Twitter page.

The incident brought to mind other acts of petulance towards referees from the top players in the country.

source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2288958/Rio-Ferdinand-face-UEFA-ban-clapping-referee-Cuneyt-Cankir-following-Manchester-United-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-exit.html?ito=feeds-newsxml


Petulant: Ferdinand led United's players in a swarm around the referee and proceeded to sarcastically applaud the Turkish official