Ryan Giggs accused the Uzbekistan referee Ravshan Irmatov of giving no protection to Team GB as Stuart Pearce's team suffered a bruising 1‑1 draw in their Olympic opener against Senegal.

Team GB and their usually composed captain were incensed by Senegal's physical approach at Old Trafford, where Craig Bellamy opened the scoring and was also on the receiving end of a dreadful challenge from Saliou Ciss before Moussa Konaté equalised in the 82nd minute.

Ciss's tackle on Bellamy went unpunished when a penalty and possibly a red card were in order, the referee awarding Senegal a goal-kick, and both the Welsh veteran plus the midfielder Joe Allen are doubtful for Sunday's game against the United Arab Emirates as a consequence of injuries sustained in the Group A draw.

Giggs said: "All you want is a bit of protection. You don't want anyone to get sent off but there were a few naughty challenges in there. A few of our lads are probably struggling for Sunday now, which is disappointing when you have only 18 players to choose from. That's the most disappointing aspect.

"There was no consistency. Bellers [Bellamy] got booked going in for a header and then there were some ridiculous challenges and you don't even see a yellow card. I don't know how many fouls the No10 [Sadio Mané] had but in a Premier League game he'd probably have been sent off three times."

Pearce refused to be drawn into any controversy over Senegal's robust approach and also played down talk of a rift with Gareth Bale over his rapid recovery from the back injury that forced him out of the Olympics but not Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season programme.

"I am delighted Gareth's injury has healed quicker than he or I expected," said the Team GB coach.

However, his Senegal counterpart, the former Birmingham City and Portsmouth player Aliou Cissé, accused Team GB of hypocrisy for complaining about the treatment they received in the game.

"I'm surprised to hear that, coming from Great Britain. They are well known for their physicality and fighting spirit, not Senegal," he said. "I can't say I saw a bad tackle on the pitch. All I saw was my players trying to get the ball in a fair way. There was absolutely no bad tackles on the pitch."

Pressed on Ciss's challenge on Bellamy, which looked dangerous but resulted in a Senegal goal-kick, he added: "From where I was standing, I really didn't think there was anything bad about that. I didn't see anything. I couldn't see everything but I do know these boys very well – I know them personally and I know they would never try to do anyone harm. I know their educations too and in Senegal we would never teach anyone to act in a malicious way."

Pearce admitted disappointment over Team GB's inability to hold out with eight minutes remaining. He also conceded there was a nervousness to Great Britain's first appearance in an Olympic tournament since 1960. "The fact we got our noses in front and didn't nail the game – and if we had moved the ball quicker we might have done – is a frustration," he said.

"It would have been nice to win and now we have to deal with the disappointment of conceding a late goal. As I know from my own experience as a player, the first game is always a nervous affair.

"There were a few nervous faces in the dressing room beforehand. There are big expectations on the host nation but it was fantastic to be applauded out by all the staff."

As for the challenge on Bellamy, Pearce added: "Whether it was inside the box or not I don't know. But it is fair to say it was a foul. You have to let the referees referee. He didn't think it was a foul and that is all that matters.

"There is not much I can say on the referee. What I say is irrelevant. I've always conducted myself on the basis that you let a referee referee."