Sir Alex Ferguson nonchalant over penalty controversy

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has responded to Patrick Vieira's recent claims that the Red Devils receive preferential treatment from referees.

The Manchester City director's comments came following the English champions' 1-0 win over Fulham on Monday, where Danny Murphy was denied a penalty, despite Michael Carrick's challenge on the Cottagers' midfielder.

"You get breaks here and there, good and bad," Ferguson said in a press conference. "They even themselves out. We've had some terrible decisions at Old Trafford, look at the Newcastle game. Tottenham had a claim [against Man City] when [Mario] Balotelli wasn't sent off.

"Someone said United don't get penalties at Old Trafford but the average over the last 20 years or so is only about three a season or something like that. Most managers believe the breaks even themselves out."

Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder Vieira has hit out against a BBC reporter for misleading him during an interview which sparked the penalty controversy.