I also remember Latics playing United at the DW on the last game of the season with United needing to win to secure the title.
Latics were playing well, should have had a penalty when Ferdinand deliberately moved his arm toward the ball to block a shot (admittedly his arm was by his side but it was still a deliberate movement) & then Paul Scholes received a caution for one of his customary shocking tackles.
A matter of minutes later he committed another probably worse challenge & got away with a warning & United eventually went on to win 2-0 & secure the league.
To be fair the media were very critical of the ref but one things that sticks in my mind was an interview on the Monday on Talksport with a former top flight ref & he was asked about the decision not to issue a second caution to Scholes. I forget who the former ref was but he said that, in isolation, the challenge was worthy of a caution BUT he agreed with the decision not to send him off as refereeing is not just about referee the incidents it is about refereeing the occasion and in light of the significance of the game it was best to leave Scholes on
To this day the comment baffles me
