Ronaldo cries foul
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Holland defender Khalid Boulahrouz deliberately injured him during Portugal’s ill-tempered second round victory in Nuremberg.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo was forced to limp out of Portugal’s stormy clash last night after sustaining a nasty gash plus bruising on his thigh following a woeful early challenge by Dutch defender Boulahrouz.
It was just one incident in a tempestuous affair not helped by the performance of Russian referee Valentin Ivanov, who in total produced a World Cup finals record four red cards and an amazing 16 yellows, equalling the tournament best.
Ronaldo faces a race to be fit to take on England in Saturday’s quarter-final while Luiz Felipe Scolari will definitely be without Deco and Costinha through suspension.
And the winger criticised Ivanov’s general performance as well as his failure to send Boulahrouz off for the seventh-minute challenge.
“Considering what happened, I don’t think this official should referee any more games in the World Cup.
“It was clearly an intentional foul to get me injured. It was a really nasty tackle, but this is part of football.
“I am used to getting kicked now but I am unhappy about that one,” he said.
“I thought I would be able to continue but, unfortunately, it was not possible. Now I will have to wait and see how the injury develops.
“I have quite a bit of bruising on my thigh so I am in the hands of the doctors. Hopefully I will be fit because I would really like to play against England.
“We have to be prepared for everything. Now I only have one thing in my mind, and it’s to get a victory against England.”
Boulahrouz was later dismissed anyway along with team-mate Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the Portuguese pair.
Portugal midfielder Maniche scored the 23rd-minute winner for Scolari’s side but even he was more concerned with criticising Ivanov.
“The referee did not dignify football. I really don’t think the sendings-off were just. We lost Costinha and Deco, two great players and friends who will miss the next game. But we will have players who will give their best against England.
“We will give all our dedication, all our efforts and plenty of sacrifice and hard work to beat them.”
