UEFA: "No problem" with Cuneyt Cakir

UEFA have insisted that they have "no problem" with the performance of referee Cuneyt Cakir during last night's Champions League tie between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

The Turkish official sent off United winger Nani for a challenge that he committed on Alvaro Arbeloa with the score 1-0 in favour of the home team.

However, having been made to play the remaining 30 minutes of the tie a man light, United were unable to hold out and exited the competition courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to their Spanish counterparts.

Cakir's decision to dismiss Portuguese international Nani has been met with a large amount of criticism, but Europe's governing body have stuck by the Turk.

"We have no problem with him," a UEFA spokesman is quoted as saying by The Guardian. "There are no issues for us regarding the sending off and we will wait for the official reports of the match delegate and the referee's observer, as is procedure. If they raise concerns then we will act. He remains on our list of officials."

Cakir has shown 36 yellow cards and three reds in just eight club games since mid-January.