Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini suggested on Friday that rivals Manchester United may have gained ground in the title race because of poor refereeing decisions saying "the rules are not the same for everyone".
Mancini would not confirm that his comments applied to two controversial penalties awarded to Manchester United at Old Trafford in recent weeks.
But what he did say was that some of "the situations" had made City's hopes of lifting the title for the first time in 44 years "really difficult".
When asked to elaborate he told a news conference: "I am not frustrated. In Italy we say, 'Every place is the same'."
Asked what that meant, he said: "The rules are not the same for everyone."
Asked if he was suggesting the rules are different for City and United, he replied: "I am not saying this, I don't want to say this. I said the rules, maybe sometimes, are different.
"When I was in Italy I always thought here (in England) there were the best referees. My idea has changed, probably."
United are five points clear of City with four matches to play and have beaten both Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in the last two weeks with Ashley Young earning penalties after theatrical falls in both games.
United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday he had "had a word" with Young about his antics, but that does not help Mancini's situation.
Speaking at his pre-match briefing before Sunday's visit to bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers, Mancini said he did not think City had any hope of winning the title although his players felt otherwise.
"I am happy because they believe but, for me, I (still) have the same feeling. I think it will be very difficult.
"We want to try to win the next game. That will be difficult. Wolves are bottom of the table and it will be a tough game. We need to play like against Norwich."
City won 6-1 at Norwich last week to keep alive their title challenge although United remain favourites to retain their crown and become champions of England for the 20th time.
Comment 1 - 16 of 16
Of course Man City have not had the benefit of any dubious decisions!! They have had several during the season and he doesn't mention them.
Mancini is correct in saying the refs in this country do favour Man U but over the whole season every team have had desicions go against them, The FA must do something about this and fast otherwise our refs are going to be the laughing stock of the world, If the FA can interfere and ban a player through bad refering then why cant they interfere in other games where Refs cockup.
what a cry baby cant take the heat get out of the kitchen .good look to the champions tomorr
Good on you Roberto, Ferguson won't like the tables being turned.
So Mancini has given up and started to suggest all is not as it seems, what a way to deflect attention from the simple fact that he is not and never will be as good as SAF, and his team have only been pretenders to the Crown, I feel sorry for all Man City fans who must be feeling let down by such comments, the fans are the ones that pay some part of his wage, if he cant hack it then the simple option is to leave and leave as soon as the season ends.
so he has given up, what message does that send to the fans, it is still statistically possible for city to win the league. Man U have a tricky game at Everton, then play City, this league is not over yet, OK wolves is going to be maybe a hard game, lose that and they are certain to drop, have wolves given up yet?
how girlie wat a muppet
mancini at it again throw n the dummy out of the pram what a PRAT the CHAMPIONS are 5 points clear on merit.
Mancini is deluded and talking trash..He should go back to Italy...scum like him
Roberto will be out in the summer so he may as well as moan and whinge and make excuses for his failure now.
debatable decision as kenny says even themselves out over the season. ie. newcastle penalty at old trafford, given when in fact good tackle by ferdinand. penalty at wigan not given. youngs qpr penalty mistake, youngs villa penalty dramatic but still a penalty.
yes well said mancini you hit the nail right on the head the decisions in the last 2 matches were a joke, ashley "diver" young diving for 2 pens and a ghost sending off for shaun derry lol the refs/FA have always favoured manure aka debt ridden club in decline.
Rules certainly are not the same. Dzeko did a dive of the decade against Sunderland and won the penalty. Young's dive was no where as spectecular as Dzeko's and yet he gets all the press coverage. You are right Mancini rulesare nit the same. What a shame !!
Sounds like Mancini is talking out of his rear again, the other day he said its a good achievement to finish 2nd to a great team like United, now he is crying wolf...what an as. ole he is proving to be, says one thing one minute then another the next
Does Mancini's difference in rules statement explain why Balotelli was not sent off for stamping on a Spurs player when he was already on a yellow card. This cheat stayed on the pitch to score a dubious last minute penalty winner.
Ferguson has gotten banned many times for saying something about the referee, is Mancini going to be banned though? Oh yes I forgot, the chairman of the FA is a lifelong Manchester City fan.....also google debatabledecisions and look at the table. United would be 10 points on top of the table if not for poor refereeing decisions. And if you don't believe the chairman of the FA is a City fan go google that aswell.
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