A Manchester United fan apologized on Tuesday after calling the police to complain about Nani’s controversial sending off following the Red Devils’ 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Manchester United were in total control of the round of 16 fixture and were seemingly on their way to qualifying for the quarter-finals of Europe’s most prestigious club competition until Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir showed the Portuguese international a contentious red card.
The Premier League club went on to lose the match 2-1 and the tie 3-2 on aggregate to crash out of the tournament, which incensed an unnamed 18 year old fan, who rang 999 (911) to inform them that a ‘crime’ had been committed, according to The Guardian .
However, Chief Inspector Ted Antil of the Nottinghamshire police was less than sympathetic saying:
“While this recent example may be amusing, it illustrates the sort of insincere calls we have to deal with on a daily basis in the control room. They waste our time and they direct us away from the genuine victims of crime, particularly if we dispatch officers out to something that turns out to be a bogus report. I would ask people to think before picking up the phone for emergency services. I would also advise parents to ensure your children are aware that prank calls and the reporting of made-up crimes are crimes in itself.”
A Sergio Ramos own goal had given Manchester United a 1-0 lead in Tuesday’s second leg and left the home side with one foot in the last eight before Nani was given his marching orders. Real Madrid wasted no time and took full advantage of its numerical superiority, as Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo scored within a three-minute span in the second half to secure the victory.
A chorus of jeers rained upon Old Trafford after the final whistle, leaving many Manchester United fans bitter at what they felt was an unjust exit from the competition.