webImageview as button - Safari iPad issues

I have a web app where I have sub-classed a webImageView and made it into a button. Works really well so far. However because it is based on an image when you press a button for more than about a second, iPad-Safari shows a magnified image and a copy/download panel underneath.

This is a total showstopper and really annoying. I would thought I could get the same result
if I right-click (contextual menu) in a desktop browser, but there it is fine. Works as a button and no download etc.

Any idea if this can be disabled.?

TIA.