Jamie Carragher says fans' suspicions have been confirmed after Mark Clattenburg claimed he was afraid to give penalties against Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson's time in charge at Old Trafford.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recently accused United of getting more penalties than other Premier League sides in recent times, prompting former referee Clattenburg to label the manager a hypocrite.
Yet, in doing so, Clattenburg also admitted that times are different from when Ferguson was manager of United, arguing that there was an aura around the club that saw them given favourable decisions.
Clattenburg went on to admit that he may not have given Liverpool three penalties at Old Trafford in 2014 had Ferguson still been in charge of the Reds at that time instead of David Moyes.
His comments prompted an outcry from rival fans and Carragher says he can see why, labelling Clattenburg's admission as unbelievable and a joke.
Speaking in a round-table with Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville, Carragher argued that United were once again getting the benefit of refereeing decisions now they are in form again.
"It’s an extraordinary amount," he said. "I’ve never seen anything like it.
"The stuff that Mark Clattenburg came out with was unbelievable.
"You have a referee who has suggested that Ferguson made them give penalties to United, basically.
"They were terrified not to give penalties. Now they are getting penalties again, and they are challenging again.
"Mad isn’t it – what a coincidence. But, really, the comments from Clattenburg were a joke. It probably sums up how everyone else felt through those years."
