Uefa to investigate Belgian threat to Ronaldo
Ronaldo could face more rough treatment at the weekend
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Thursday, 22, Mar 2007 10:43
Uefa is to launch an investigation into the reported comments from goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen that his Belgium team-mates would "have to attack [Cristiano] Ronaldo so much that he will have to leave the pitch" in their forthcoming match against Portugal.
Belgium are due to face the tricky winger in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday and the quotes appeared in an article looking forward to the tie in one of the country's regional papers.
The Portuguese Football Federation have moved quickly to protect their star, requesting that Uefa look into the allegations immediately.
"We have received a complaint from the Portuguese FA and we will start an investigation into the matter," a Uefa spokesman confirmed.
But although an enquiry is underway and Stijnen has already suggested he was misquoted, the issue still will not be resolved by the time the teams meet this weekend.
"We will be contacting the Belgian FA in due course, but the investigation will not be completed by the time of the match on Saturday."
Belgium travel to Lisbon for the group A match one place behind the Portuguese in fifth with both sides desperately needing wins to close the gap on pacesetters Serbia and Finland.