Vieira 'immune' to red cards - Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted Patrick Vieira had an apparent “immunity” from referees which prevented him from being sent off before striking the penalty that secured the FA Cup for Arsenal.

Referee Rob Styles sent off Jose Antonio Reyes in the final minute of extra-time before the first shoot-out in 133 years of FA Cup final history went Arsenal’s way.

However, Ferguson believes the official, whose high red card tally came under scrutiny before kick-off, should also have dismissed Vieira.

The Arsenal captain was booked near the end of extra-time for a tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo but then escaped a second caution for another foul on Wayne Rooney.

Ferguson, who also accused Arsenal of “boring” tactics and playing for penalties, declared: “He could have maybe sent off Vieira.

“But Patrick seems to have an immunity to these kind of things so I’m not surprised. These games are very difficult for referees. Where do they start or stop?

“There were a lot of fouls and I don’t think there were any really bad ones, although Reyes was perhaps a bit lucky not to be sent off for his tackle on Mikael Silvestre.

“You don’t want to see players sent off in the final but referees are only human beings.”