EXCUSES AND INTIMIDATION

"It is Sir Alex Ferguson's usual trick, and it is his way of putting the pressure on," he said.

"Sir Alex Ferguson can think what he wants. I don't understand how this man allows himself to have such thoughts. He could have avoided (saying) them.

"My players simply wanted to make a complaint on a fact of the game. It wasn't laying it on thick. They didn't want to leave the pitch."

Puel added: "In France, you must express a complaint after the first stoppage in play which follows the decision. It is for that reason we stopped the game.

"In the Champions League, it is different. You can intervene after the match.

"Quite simply, two refereeing decisions went against us in a very good match between two excellent teams. I am sorry for that."

Lille president Michel Seydoux will put pressure on Michel Platini to call a replay due to a refereeing technical error.

"I will call Michel Platini, who says he defends the beautiful game and the little teams," he said.

"We have developed a beautiful game and we are a little team."

Perhaps Lille should study this before speaking to UEFA

The Free-Kick Law

The referee only needs to blow his whistle if the attacking team ask him to move the wall back. Otherwise, the kick can be taken quickly, without warning.