Fergie stands tough in Olympic row

ALEX FERGUSON yesterday hit back at FIFA president Sepp Blatter after he rebuked the Manchester United manager for criticising the Olympic soccer tournament.

United have lost Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Gabriel Heinze to the Games and Ferguson said playing in the tournament could endanger their first-team chances.

Blatter replied: “What a coach should say is ‘go, and bring back the experience and spirit of the Olympics to my team’.”

However, Ferguson brushed aside Blatter’s remarks. “Everyone has their own view in life and some people are one-sided and that’s the way it is at the moment,” the manager said.

Meanwhile the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has published a medical bulletin to prove Ronaldo is fit to compete in the Olympics.