Fergie wants elite refs for Champions League

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has called on UEFA to create an elite panel of referees for the Champions League.

Ferguson, who yesterday confirmed he has had a pacemaker inserted, is still trying to come to terms with Tuesday’s sickening first knock-out phase exit to Porto.

Throughout the two legs of the tie, which the Portuguese champions emerged 3-2 victors, Ferguson was infuriated by Porto’s diving and the inconsistency of the referees.

He condemned the performance of German Herbert Fandel in the first leg and after claiming he was happy to let Valentin Ivanov get on with his job ahead of the Old Trafford decider, now believes the Russian was equally inept.

“What irritates me about the Porto match and about the Champions League in general is that it is the greatest tournament in the world, but often has the worst officials,” Ferguson told the Scotsman.

“The Russian referee booked Ivanov early on for a nothing challenge and then waved play on when Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly and deliberately body-checked later.

“He was suggesting that Ronaldo was play-acting but he had to be taken off with a thigh injury and could be out for a while.

“I really believe that, for a tournament of that status, they should have an elite group of referees, such as we have in the Premiership and as they do in Italy.

“It would make far more sense.”

Unfortunately for Ferguson, if UEFA did have such a list, Ivanov would almost certainly be in it.

The 42-year-old Moscow PE teacher was refereeing his 15th Champions League match on Tuesday – three of which have now involved United – and was also deemed competent enough to take charge of last summer’s Confederations Cup Final and the World Club Championship clash between AC Milan and Boca Juniors in December.