Referee Mark Clattenburg still feels he was right to send
off Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher at Birmingham on
Saturday evening.
Fletcher was dismissed after collecting a second yellow card
late on following a trip on Cameron Jerome.
Sir Alex Ferguson described the decision as "ridiculous" and
"soft" after the 1-1 draw, leading to reports the United boss could
again be in trouble with the FA regarding his comments about
referees.
However, Clattenburg is confident he made the right decision to
dismiss Fletcher, having booked the midfielder for a challenge on
Lee Bowyer in the first half.
Clattenburg also warned the Scotland international about showing
dissent and did not wish to be drawn into a row with Ferguson.
"You'll have to ask him about his comments, that's not my
business," said the official. "There were two yellow cards for
Fletcher.
"In the first half he was b*******d for dissent, I warned him
for dissent.
"He was cautioned before half-time for a foul, then he cynically
tripped the Birmingham player."
Clattenburg also explained the situation regarding the furore
about United's equaliser when the linesman flagged for offside
against Wayne Rooney despite Scott Dann turning the ball into his
own net.
He added: "I saw that a player from the home side had scored an
own goal, but my assistant saw Rooney in an offside position and
correctly put the flag up.
"I went across to talk to him and he told me why he had flagged,
but because Rooney did not score and it was an own goal, it must
stand.
"If Rooney had scored then he would have been given offside.
"As the law stands, for a player to be offside he must be either
playing the ball or interfering with play. In this case the
defender tried to clear it and scored an own goal. Rooney was two
or three yards away from him."