Van Persie is 'lucky to be alive'

Sir Alex Ferguson says Robin van Persie is "lucky to be alive" after being hit in the head by a ball struck by Ashley Williams in the 1-1 draw with Swansea.

Van Persie was lying on the ground when Williams kicked the ball from a couple of yards away as the referee blew the whistle for a foul.

Ferguson felt Van Persie was fortunate to escape serious injury.

"Robin van Persie is lucky to be alive. It was a disgraceful act from their player," Ferguson told BBC Sport.

Van Persie and Williams were involved in an angry confrontation

"He should be banned by the FA. Robin could have had a broken neck."

The United manager said Williams, 28, had deliberately aimed the ball at Van Persie, who reacted furiously - both players were cautioned by referee Michael Oliver.

Ferguson added on Sky Sports: "With the Van Persie situation, you can clearly see that he could have been killed.

"He should be banned for a long time because that was the most dangerous thing I've seen on a football field for many years.

"It was absolutely deliberate. The whistle has gone, the game has stopped and he has done that right in front of the referee, he could have killed the lad.

"It was a disgraceful act by the player, he should be banned for a long time."

Williams denied he had hit Van Persie intentionally.

Williams on Van Persie incident

"I've seen it on the TV and that's his [Ferguson's] opinion," said Williams.

"Everyone's going to have their own opinion but, from my point of view, I tried to apologise on the pitch but it all flared up.

"I just kicked the ball in frustration and obviously not trying to hit him square on the head.

"I understand exactly why he's angry. I'd be the same if the ball hit me on the head at that pace."

United striker Wayne Rooney tried to play the incident down.

"I think it's one of those things," he said. "The whistle's gone, the defender has gone to clear and it's hit him in the head. I think probably the right decision from the referee."

United led the Premier League by six points going into the weekend's fixtures but, after the draw with Swansea and rivals Manchester City's win over Reading, that advantage has been cut to four points.

"It should have been six. That's the disappointment," added Ferguson.

"We absolutely battered Swansea [in the second half].

"In the second half it was a marvellous performance by us and we were unlucky not to win it. We struck the bar twice and had some great chances.

"If there is a criticism then maybe it is that we were wasteful with the chances and we have to hold out hand up to that."

The United manager was angry that referee Michael Oliver, 27, did not disallow Swansea's equaliser for a foul by Chico on Van Persie during the build-up to the goal.

"It really it should have been a foul for us when the defender fouled Van Persie but the referee has had one of those games," said Ferguson.

"I know he is a young referee but dear me what a performance that was."

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'Lucky escape' as wall collapses

23 December 2012 Last updated at 16:58 GMT Craig Stewart and Salman Khan describe the damage to their homes in Pontypridd

Residents have described how they had a lucky escape when a wall collapsed after heavy rain, bringing tons of earth and rubble on to their homes.

A section of the retaining wall, described as six metres (20ft) tall, collapsed at about 22.30 GMT on Saturday in Berw Road, Pontypridd.

Residents described a noise "like thunder" and said it was lucky nobody was killed. Four homes were evacuated.

Rhondda Cynon Taff council said the wall was the residents' responsibility.

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Just as we were starting to run down the stairs you could hear the whole thing crash and it was like thunder”

End Quote Craig Stewart However, it said it was working with them to make the area safe, and said it would "investigate the history of the issue".

Some residents claim fears about the safety of the wall had previously been reported to the council.

Resident Craig Stewart had to flee his home with his partner and seven-month-old baby.

He said: "I was in the living room. I started hearing noises outside.

"I went upstairs to look out of the window to see what the noise was.

"The last noise I heard was creaking wood, so I knew it was the support that we've got up, because it's the only wood around here.

"So then I knew the wall was putting pressure on it."

He said he and his partner left the house with their baby, adding: "Just as we were starting to run down the stairs you could hear the whole thing crash and it was like thunder."

He said his extension "could fall down any minute" and a neighbour's kitchen had "completely caved in".

"Anybody stood in there would've been dead basically," he added.

Mr Stewart's father, David, said the terrace included about 10 miners' cottages.

Part of the collapsed wall in Pontypridd

He said: "There's a black expanse of rubble and earth.

"The rubble is up to the bedroom windows in some cases, and one kitchen has disappeared. How nobody was killed, I don't know."

'Massive bang'

Another resident, Salman Khan, said his wife and son were at home when they heard a "massive bang". He said his family had been "very lucky".

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 22:57 GMT on Saturday, and left the scene at 00:18 on Sunday.

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The council will also be investigating the history of the issue with the residents so that the situation can be resolved”

End Quote Rhondda Cynon Taf Council A spokeswoman said four homes were evacuated - numbers 21-24 - and a Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) council surveyor was assessing the structural damage.

In a statement, RCT council said was alerted to the collapsed wall on Sunday, following "severe weather that the county borough has been experiencing".

It added: "As a result a number of residents have been evacuated from their homes whilst the council liaise with residents to make the area safe.

"However this wall remains the responsibility of the residents and is a private matter, but the council will continue to work with those affected to make the area safe in the short-term.

"The council will also be investigating the history of the issue with the residents so that the situation can be resolved."

Elsewhere, 11 homes were evacuated overnight in Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley after a landslip due to flooding.

Affected residents spent the night in a nearby leisure centre, and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said four homes remained evacuated on Sunday.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) said flooding disrupted services between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, and Caersws and Machynlleth in Powys.

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