Ronaldo Has a Blub

Manchester United`s Christiano Ronaldo feels that his three match ban for violent conduct is unjust.

‘I am frustrated because three matches is unjust. I am willing to resist the provocation – but only up to a limit,’ Ronaldo told the Daily Mirror. ‘That limit was passed at Portsmouth. It was just absurd.’

The first temptation here is to laugh. It`s Ronaldo right? If head butt recipient Richard Hughes had winked at the bench things would have been perfect.

However, looking beyond the obvious, the Portuguese ballet dancer has a point. Portsmouth are a deeply cynical team. In the match against Bolton on Saturday, Pompey equalized after the most blatant of fouls against Nicolas Anelka and El Hadji Diouf was subjected to the same physical intimidation meted out to Ronaldo. The flip side (before allegations of sour grapes are made) is that Harry Redknapp`s team can also play some delightful pass and move football – the sort, no doubt, that Sammy Lee aspires to.

Will Pompey`s thuggery get attention from the press? Like hell. ‘Arry is a media darling, nothing bad can ever be said about him. Bolton are no strangers to being branded a ‘physical` side, but compared to Portsmouth, they`re angels.