Elleray's toughest decision

Former referee David Elleray has revealed the toughest decision of his distinguished career was sending off Roy Keane for his infamous tackle on Alf Inge Haaland.

The Kent-born official sent the abrasive Irishman off four times and he feared accusations of a vendetta against Manchester United after a bust-up two years earlier followed his controversial dismissal of Denis Irwin at Anfield.

However, Keane was to show no ill feelings towards his nemesis and, in truth, the decision to red card the United captain was totally justified.

"I found myself in charge of the Manchester derby (in 2001)," Elleray told Observer Sports Monthly, indicating that he had been given virtually a two-year break from United fixtures.

"We had gone 83 minutes without so much as a yellow card until Roy Keane made that challenge on Alf Inge Haaland.

"People say to me that it must have been the easiest decision I had ever made. But it wasn't.

"In fact, it was the most difficult.

"This was a Manchester derby, Roy had made the challenge right by the Stretford End and it was to be the fourth time I had dismissed him.

"It was already alleged that I was pursuing a vendetta against him. Back in the dressing room, I saw the tackle on television.

"I was relieved to see that I had made the right decision. As Roy later admitted in his book, it was deliberately brutal.

"When I retired, he was good enough to send me a personal note expressing his gratitude that I had hung up my boots. He also sent me a signed United shirt. I like to think that that reflected well on him and on me."

Elleray also revealed the hostilities he faced after a 2-2 draw between Liverpool and United in 1999 when he awarded a controversial penalty and dismissed Irwin for 'deliberate time-wasting'.

"It was only as I pulled out the card and showed it to him (Irwin) that I realised that I had already booked him," Elleray explained.

"There was the usual melee around me, but Denis seemed to leave the pitch quietly enough. 

"I couldn't prepare myself for what followed. The tunnel at Anfield is very narrow and I was pursued by Alex Ferguson, who was shouting and screaming.

"The United players and fans were furious, not only about the penalty and the sending off but also because it meant Denis would miss the FA Cup final."