CRISTIANO Ronaldo says he "scared" by some tackling in English football after being denied a penalty in United's FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth and suffering repeated fouls.
The Portuguese wing ace saw his claim for a spot kick, after being floored by Pompey defender Sylvan Distin, dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson.
And after being targetted physically, particularly by Lassana Diarra, he said: "The referee was unbelievable. After five minutes there had been three fouls but he didn't give any cards.
"Then I do not get the penalty. It's very disappointing.
"He (Distin) didn't try to take the ball, he came straight to me and when this happens it's difficult to play football. It's a joke.
"This is the best league in the world but I'm scared sometimes because some players do unbelievable fouls and the referee protects the defender not the skilled players.
"I'm thinking a lot about changing my game because this happens. They don't give penalties, don't give yellows, don't give reds, it's difficult to play like that."
Reds manager Sir Alex Ferguson earlier also rounded on Atkinson and referees' supremo Keith Hackett as well, saying: "He (Hackett) is not doing his job properly and he needs to be assessed.
"I'm assessed as a manager, players are assessed, referees should be assessed properly by the right people. That performance should not be accepted by our game."
But Distin launched a staunch defence of the art of tackling after Portsmouth clinched a place in the semi-finals.
He said: "If every time you touch a player it is a penalty, how do you defend?," said the former Manchester City centre-half.
"This is football - it is a contact sport.
"I went shoulder to shoulder with him. I was not going to move out of the way.
"If you cannot do this and you cannot do that, then you are not able to defend."
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REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 13:56)
Savvy no wonder city got rid of you you clumsy muppet.
Blatant penalty.
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 13:58)
Ronnies not scared of playing hes scared of injurys look at eduardo,if ronnies knocked into the boardings around the pitch and bang's his head who to say it wont result like chec with a fractured skull or even worse.
Bugsy Blue (09/03/2008 at 14:21)
craig (09/03/2008 at 14:41)
bobbyc, manchester (09/03/2008 at 15:05)
Wigan Ben, Wigan (09/03/2008 at 15:17)
Look at what happened to Dunnie yesterday, because he ISN'T a big blubbering baby but a real football player.
Get real Ronaldo.
adam chance, lowestoft, suffolk (09/03/2008 at 15:23)
They say that we Reds have a 'siege mentality' and a 'persecution complex' regarding the authorities...well its hardly a surprise, really, is it?
The very moment Diarra totally wiped Ronaldo out in the opening moments of the game, and the referee failed to deal with it, I thought to myself, this is going to be one of those days, because it sent out the message to the other Portsmouth players that they could get away with it.
A string of physical and cynical challenges followed, and therefore characterised the afternoon.
And then, after a display of inept officiating, we're drip fed by the London media that Ferguson is a bad loser, etc.
Well, I can assure you there would have been a completely different tone adopted by the press had it been an Arsenal or Chelsea player Distin barged off the ball in the area for what should have been a blatant penalty.
What sickens me the most is that the minute Ferguson said his piece, you could just hear the likes of Barwick and the other faceless blazers at the FA rubbing their hands with glee...another opportunity to send out a message by yet again making an example of the biggest club in the country.
You've got to laugh, beccause in the previous round against Arsenal Alan Wiley failed to act on bad challenges on Nani from Eduardo, Gallas and Hoyte.
And the best thing is we've got a media orchrestrated campaign waged against us saying that we do not take this competition seriously!!!
Well, after yesterday Ferguson should just field youth teamers in the future and actually not bother taking the FA Cup seriously...
Invisible Man, Manchester (09/03/2008 at 15:45)
If he is scared that is pathetic. To think you lot ask who is the better, Nancy or Georgie. Imagine best saying 'I'm scared"? Laughable!
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (09/03/2008 at 15:56)
happy manc, margate (09/03/2008 at 16:06)
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 16:10)
My citeh mate paid a lot to go and when i rang him he said forget citeh and next years season ticket im going to forget it and buy him and his kids salford reds season tickets as although its a differnt sport its damn better than getting ripped off and watching poor poor citeh.
Hell be a red salford city supporter like me.
Whens your team going to have a 30 goal a season player????
Never.
Half your team are wimps any way,ronnie gets kicked every game 20 times a game id too say hang on whats going on,is this right.
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 16:12)
your a lemon sucking loser.
Nuff said.
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 16:17)
sorry penalty,even the pundits said penalty,any way i hope your supporting wigan as youve got arsenal now,this min.
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 16:19)
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 16:21)
Chapman (09/03/2008 at 17:37)
Bert is my hero (09/03/2008 at 17:39)
browny, Vancouver Island (09/03/2008 at 17:43)
roykeane (09/03/2008 at 18:04)
Invisible Man, Manchester (09/03/2008 at 18:10)
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (09/03/2008 at 18:24)
Bet not all seats at Wembly have a bum on them!
MG, Canada (09/03/2008 at 18:27)
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (09/03/2008 at 18:31)
The EPL is now entirely in our hand!
Keep yer nreve lads!
UNITED! UNITED!
Bobby Law (09/03/2008 at 18:33)
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (09/03/2008 at 18:37)
What do you do sweep streets.