Ronaldo denies seeking red card for Rooney

PORTUGAL winger Cristiano Ronaldo has denied asking Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo to take action against England’s Wayne Rooney during the World Cup quarter-final.

Rooney was sent off after stamping on Ricardo Carvalho and then pushing his Manchester United team-mate Ronaldo, with England going on to lose on penalties.

Ronaldo, who winked at the Portugal bench following the dismissal, then scored the penalty to clinch victory in the shoot-out and secure Portugal’s first World Cup semi-final in 40 years.

“I know that people will say that the referee sent off Rooney because I spoke to him,” said Ronaldo. “I only said to the referee that it was a foul, only that.

“I never asked for the red card.

“But I know the English press will say that it was my fault that he was sent off.

“He is my team-mate and a player of international level, that is why I hope that his gesture wasn’t so bad as it looked.”

While Rooney awaits punishment by FIFA, Ronaldo is looking forward to his team’s next game in Germany.

Portugal take on France, who beat defending champions Brazil, on Wednesday in Munich.

“I am very satisfied to have scored and for my team to have progressed,” said Ronaldo.

“Now we have four days to recover but we are already thinking about our next game.

“We will see what happens.”