Styles apologises for Ronaldo penalty gaffe

REFEREE Rob Styles has been given a Premier League game to referee next weekend despite admitting he mistakenly awarded a penalty to Manchester United on Saturday.

It is understood Styles has made private contact with Bolton to apologise for giving a spot-kick to United when defender Jlloyd Samuel fairly tackled Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford.

Under the self-regulation policy of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for top referees, officials who make mistakes often miss out on refereeing a Premier League match the following weekend.

That has not happened in this case as referees’ chief Keith Hackett has decided to back Styles, and he will be in charge for Tottenham v Hull on Sunday.

Alex Ferguson has backed Styles’ decision to apologise. “Rob takes a lot of credit,” said the United boss ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with Aalborg.

“It helps in terms of him showing some humility towards the game. That is the most important thing. It is good he has done it. It presents him in a different light. It shows he has character and is big enough to do it.”