Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branded Lille "a disgrace" and demanded Uefa take action after they threatened a Champions League walk-out.
Lille players looked ready to quit the last 16 clash in France after Ryan Giggs' controversial quick free-kick gave United a 1-0 first leg lead.

Ferguson said: "I have never seen that before in all my years in football.

"That is a disgrace and Uefa have to do something about that because it was pure intimidation of the referee."

Ferguson added: "The Lille staff encouraged their players to come off and that made it a hostile atmosphere inside the ground. It's a disgrace.

"Uefa will have to come down on it. They have to. It was very worrying because they were throwing missiles and Gary Neville got hit by something."

Ferguson ordered his players to stay on the pitch as their Lille counterparts gathered on the touchline.

He said: "I wanted to make sure our players kept on the pitch away from it all. It wasn't our concern so I didn't want us involved."

Ferguson's comments were condemned by Lille coach Guy Puel, who claimed his team were not planning a walk-off.

He said: "I don't know how that man Ferguson can allow himself to comment like that about this. He should have said nothing.

"The team wished to make a complaint about the goal and didn't want to leave the field. They were just making a protest.

"In France the tradition is to make a protest at the first pause in the game and then after the match."

Puel, who was also angry that an earlier goal from Peter Odemwingie was ruled out by referee Eric Braamhaar for a foul on Nemanja Vidic, was upset that Giggs' winner was allowed to stand.

He said: "It's not logical. The signal the referee gave was not clear for everyone, especially for us.

"I don't understand. We could not express a formal complaint as we could not find a Uefa delegate."