Ronaldo Was Provoked

Cristiano Ronaldo's sending off made front-page news (must be a 'quiet' news day!) - but it was a travesty. Ronaldo was provoked, who deserves to be vilified Materazzi-style by the Press!

The Daily Mirror actually had the story of Ronaldo's sending off on the front AND back pages of the newspaper, whilst it was also covered on most of the broadsheets as a photo showing Cristiano looking embarassed at the refereeing decision.

Quite how this story beats people dying in Iraq and the impending US recession is beyond me, but its the moment the Press have been waiting for since last June 5th when Ronaldo supposedly played his part in getting Wayne Rooney sent off.

The Press, especially the cheap and sensationalist tabloids, took great delight in splashing the words 'Nutter' and 'Nutjob' across the back-pages as if to suggest Cristiano is mentally unstable, when all he did is react after 84 minutes of taunting, baiting, etc.

If it had been precious Wayne Rooney sent off then the media would be vilifying Hughes (who?) for his part in provoking one of the World's Greatest players, in much the same way that Marco Materazzi was castigated for his part in Zidane's final flourish.

Fergie insisted Ronny had been provoked:

"My take is that he was provoked," Ferguson told Sky Sports News. "He's fallen into the trap and he's paid the penalty for it.

"He was surprised at the decision. But Steve Bennett has sent him off before, and I think he took great delight in sending him off too.

"So it was a missed opportunity of staying on the pitch and winning the game against 10 men."

This should hopefully help make Cristiano even stronger as a person and performer, and at least he's learning these lessons early on in the season, and his career.