Football fan dials 999 after Nani red card

A FOOTBALL fan who saw a footballer given a red card on television was so incensed by the decision that he dialled 999.

• Manchester United fan calls 999 after Nani red card

• Referee Cuneyt Cakir had ‘committed a crime’ by sending Portugese winger off

An 18-year-old Manchester United supporter, who has not been identified, called the emergency services after seeing Portugese winger Nani being sent-off by the referee as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side played Real Madrid in a Champions League match.

The man had been watching the game at home in a village near Bingham, Nottinghamshire, when he made the call.

He told police that he felt Cuneyt Cakir had committed a crime by dismissing Nani for a high challenge on Real Madrid defender Alvaro Albeloa.

Manchester United ended up losing the tie 2-1, eliminating them from the competition 3-2 on aggregate.

The fan later apologised for his actions, claiming to have been caught up in the excitement.

Police said the incident highlighted the need for increased public awareness of the misuse of the emergency services number.

Control Room Chief Inspector Ted Antill said: “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 genuine victims of crime, particularly if we dispatch officers out to something that turns out to be a bogus report.”