PFA chief condemns Cristiano Ronaldo

Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor has condemned Cristiano Ronaldo’s actions prior to Wayne Rooney’s World Cup dismissal on Saturday.

Ronaldo rushed in and urged Argentinean referee Horacio Elizondo to take action against his Manchester United team-mate after Rooney appeared to stamp on Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho.

“It’s always disappointing to see players from one team looking to get players from another sent off, be it the Premier League, be it the Football League, be it a World Cup,” Taylor told Sky Sports News.

“But it’s doubly disappointing when they are colleagues from the same club side. From my point of view, that was hard to stomach.”

Ronaldo and Rooney have both insisted there will be no hard feelings over the incident when they link up again at Old Trafford.

However, bookmakers Ladbrokes rate the winger odds-on to leave United before the start of next season and Taylor can understand that view.

“There have been leaks and rumours that he’s wanted to leave and go to Real Madrid beforehand and people will be thinking this is part of that equation,” he said.