Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has hit out at UEFA's decision to defend referee Cuneyt Cakir's decision to send off Nani in his side's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

Van Persie also questioned the decision to appoint the "unknown" referee to one of the biggest clashes imaginable in world football.

"For an hour everything was looking good, the tactics seems to be right," Van Persie told AD.nl. "We really had the feeling that we were going to make the second goal and then it became very difficult for Real Madrid. Then it was the referee pulled the red card."

"The worst thing is that the UEFA supports him. That's cowardly, because I really don't understand it. Why don't they say honestly: 'He hasn't seen it?'

"I didn't understand beforehand that this man would be the referee. Such an unknown referee who hasn't had any big games for months."

Meanwhile, former United favourite Andy Cole has backed Van Persie to end his goal drought soon.