Verdicts on controversal moments from the game from Goal.com
61st minute
Incident: David Luiz challenge goes straight through the back of Wayne Rooney and completely takes the England striker out.
The ref's decision: Foul and a yellow card.
Why is it controversial: There was nothing controversial about the actual decision as the referee got it spot on, but had Martin Atkinson acted by the letter of the law two minutes earlier after Luiz's challenge on Javier Hernandez, Chelsea's £21 million defender would have got a second yellow and been sent off.
The law: A direct free-kick can be awarded when a player kicks or attempts to kick an opponent, trips or attempts to trip an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes or attempts to strike an opponent, pushes an opponent, makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball when tackling.
A player can receive a caution for persistent infringement of the laws, for example, a series of fouls. A yellow card can also be given for anything that can be deemed as unsporting behaviour.
A red card can be issued when a player receives a second caution in the match.
Goal.com verdict: The correct decision:D
80th minute
Incident: Chris Smalling brings down Yury Zhirkov in the box.
The ref's decision: Penalty.
Why is it controversial: It is debatable whether Zhirkov 'bought the foul' and took the opportunity to go over Smalling's outstretched leg.
The law: The law on giving penalties states a referee can award a spot kick after any foul which would normally lead to a direct free-kick that is committed by a team inside their own penalty area.
Goal.com verdict: The correct decision.
93rd minute
Incident: Nemanja Vidic is beaten for pace by Ramires and the Serbian defender tugs at his shirt, bringing him down just outside the box.
The ref's decision: Direct free-kick and a second yellow card for Vidic, resulting in a red card.
Why is it controversial: It was a definite yellow card and moments earlier Vidic made another reckless foul on Didier Drogba. There can be no complaints for United but after what had gone on before with David Luiz, they will feel hard done by. The United skipper did tug at the shirt of Ramires but it was no worse than had been committed by Luiz earlier. The red card means Vidic will miss Sunday's crucial fixture against Liverpool at Anfield.
The law: A direct free-kick can be awarded when a player kicks or attempts to kick an opponent, trips or attempts to trip an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes or attempts to strike an opponent, pushes an opponent, makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball when tackling.
A player can receive a caution for persistent infringement of the laws, for example, a series of fouls. A yellow card can also be given for anything that can be deemed as unsporting behaviour.
A red card can be issued when a player receives a second caution in the match.
Goal.com verdict: The correct decision:D but there was no consistency shown in the game by referee Martin Atkinson
