Plea to England fans...

[Ski]

Amen

[Jamo]

I'm not convinced that he was sent off for stamping on some Portugese goolies. I think it was for the push.

It may have been that he was heading for a yellow for retaliating against an aggressive tackle, but that was upgraded to a red after he pushed a player.

No matter what happens on a football field, a player should not retaliate against another and should be sent off if he does.

If a player is getting wound up then he should be proffesional enough to ignore it.

Therefore no matter how much Ronaldo wound him up or teased him, it is still Roonie's fault that he was sent off.

There's a million other examples out there, but at the moment it seems that all Englishmen can't see past this recent one.

Bit rich that, especially considering the antics of players such as Duncan Ferguson

[Sidspud]

Bit rich that, especially considering the antics of players such as Duncan Ferguson

Don't get me wrong Jamo. I'm not trying to defend Ronaldo. I'm not being anti-English and if it comes accross that way then I apologise unreservedly.

What I'm trying to say is that the fault lies with Wayne Roonie for getting himself sent off. Ronaldo did nothing different to what he does playing in the premiership. Some players are like that - they'll fall over when someone sniffs near them - they'll wave their arms and shout at the ref to book someone if they're looked at the wrong way.

90% of the South American teams (including Brazil) had loads of players rushing up to the ref throughout their games gesticulating for a card to be shown. Its not nice but its part of the game. Portugal are one of the few European teams who do it to the same extent, but its no surprise when you realise that they're managed by a Brazilian.

I think if Ronaldo had done his gesticulating during a different game and another player had got sent off then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The majority of England supporters are upset because of what they deem to be unsportsmanlike conduct. Not as unsportsmanlike as stamping on someones bolloks or pushing an opposing player when his back is turned.

But then this is all down to what we call patriotism. We see red mist without looking at the big picture. We're upset because our team didn't win and we're looking for a scapegoat.

You're looking at the wrong guy. It should be Roonie who should be apologising for letting his team down by getting HIMSELF sent off.

[hiltoa]

But the MIST, it burns...

We'll calm down in a month or two.

[Jamo]

Don't get me wrong Jamo. I'm not trying to defend Ronaldo. I'm not being anti-English and if it comes accross that way then I apologise unreservedly.

What I'm trying to say is that the fault lies with Wayne Roonie for getting himself sent off. Ronaldo did nothing different to what he does playing in the premiership. Some players are like that - they'll fall over when someone sniffs near them - they'll wave their arms and shout at the ref to book someone if they're looked at the wrong way.

90% of the South American teams (including Brazil) had loads of players rushing up to the ref throughout their games gesticulating for a card to be shown. Its not nice but its part of the game. Portugal are one of the few European teams who do it to the same extent, but its no surprise when you realise that they're managed by a Brazilian.

I think if Ronaldo had done his gesticulating during a different game and another player had got sent off then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The majority of England supporters are upset because of what they deem to be unsportsmanlike conduct. Not as unsportsmanlike as stamping on someones bolloks or pushing an opposing player when his back is turned.

But then this is all down to what we call patriotism. We see red mist without looking at the big picture. We're upset because our team didn't win and we're looking for a scapegoat.

You're looking at the wrong guy. It should be Roonie who should be apologising for letting his team down by getting HIMSELF sent off.

I can't agree there mate

a) Rooney was fouled initial and the ref confirmed that but he played advantage
b) The ref gave a foul and that was it
c) Are you honestly telling me Rooney deserved a red card? for what exactly?

Look at Heinze vs Mexico, he took the guy clean out, result was a yellow card.

[Ski]

OK jamo, if what u say is true, and rooney didnt reseve a red card, then your anger should be aimed at the ref not ronaldo.

[hiltoa]

The ref didn't give a sly wink to the bench afterwards.

[Ski]

And ronaldo didnt send rooney off either, it was the ref.

[baltiboyS2]

It is impossible to deciepher the contex in which the wink was given to be truthfull sombody might have said something to him totally unrelated to the rooney sending off
i know its hard to take but we were not there

Raj ABY

[flossymeister]

ronaldo has always been a tw@ . The ref was just as much of an idiot, but fundamentally he didn't show poor sportsmanship, he just got his job wrong. Yes Rooney shouldn't have pushed ronaldo, but if that little push on ronaldo's chest constitutes a sending off offence then football has become quite ridiculously cr@p. How come players are allowed to eff and blind at each other and the referee(!!!), but not allowed in the heat of such a moment as that to react in what was effectively a non-violent way? A spot of compassion on the part of the ref might not have gone amiss. Crazy sport if you ask me - they need to bring in rugby-style treatment of play. Rugby players would not dare talk back to a ref, or tell him how to do his job - and the game is much better for it.

just my 2p,

Tim

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Too much of a coincidence that the "knowing wink" to the bench came immediately after the sending off.

Yes, Rooney has a problem with his temper and perhaps that makes him less than ideal in these situations - but clearly Ronaldo knows this from the "inside knowledge" he gets from playing alongside Rooney at MUFC. Using that knowledge and setting up the player (right from the start of the match) to get him sent off is cynical, and no matter whatever else you might think about the English team (yes the sentiments do come across very clearly), you cannot condone such clearly deliberate behaviour.

__MDC__

[Bibby]

Ronaldo is a diving cheat, no arguments there.

Rooney's behaviour was also unacceptable and highly unprofessional. Consider how much he earns, and how he's a role model for thousands of young kids... he deserved to be sent off.

Aside from whether he stood on that guys knackers on purpose or not, he should have been professional and mature enough not to have reacted the way he did by pushing the other player.

[baltiboyS2]

ronaldo has always been a tw@ . The ref was just as much of an idiot, but fundamentally he didn't show poor sportsmanship, he just got his job wrong. Yes Rooney shouldn't have pushed ronaldo, but if that little push on ronaldo's chest constitutes a sending off offence then football has become quite ridiculously cr@p. How come players are allowed to eff and blind at each other and the referee(!!!), but not allowed in the heat of such a moment as that to react in what was effectively a non-violent way? A spot of compassion on the part of the ref might not have gone amiss. Crazy sport if you ask me - they need to bring in rugby-style treatment of play. Rugby players would not dare talk back to a ref, or tell him how to do his job - and the game is much better for it.

just my 2p,

Tim

I totally agree with you im just sitting on the fence regarding this
i reckon only the captain should be allowed to confront the referee and no one else
and maybe the fottball lads should have a run in with a rugby team then they will know the meaning of pole axed in a challange LOL

[flossymeister]

and maybe the fottball lads should have a run in with a rugby team then they will know the meaning of pole axed in a challange LOL

Raj, I totally agree:mischeif: Been wanting that for years, just like every other rugby player

Tim

[hiltoa]

Raj, I totally agree:mischeif: Been wanting that for years, just like every other rugby player

Tim

That would be fun to see!

Football is a game for gentlemen, played by idiots.
Rugby is a game for idiots, played by gentlemen.

I enjoy watching and playing both, though it's been a while since I played rugby (for my school... )