Fergie blasts red card Ronaldo

Updated 09.36 Thu Aug 16 2007

Keywords: benjani mwaruwari, carlos tevez, paul scholes, manchester city, wayne rooney, sulley muntari, sir alex ferguson, richard hughes, portsmouth, cristiano ronaldo, manchester united, premier league, football, sport

Sir Alex Ferguson criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for getting sent off in the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

The Portugal midfielder appeared to aim a headbutt at substitute Richard Hughes and was shown the red card for violent conduct.

"He was provoked and he fell for it" - Sir Alex Ferguson

He picks up an automatic three-match ban, ruing him out of Sunday's derby game against Manchester City.

Ferguson said: "He was provoked and he fell for it. He fell into a trap and has to learn from it but he received no protection all night.

"I have tried to look at the replay and, although nothing is conclusive, my take is that he was provoked. I don't know if he raised his hands or whatever or not."

Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari was also sent off during the game for a second bookable offence.

United now face games against City, Sunderland and Tottenham without Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, who is injured.

Ferguson added: "He has got to learn from this. He has got to tell himself that inferior players are trying to stop him and not fall for these things. That is why they are doing it but he has fallen into the trap of intimidation and that's something that has happened a few times.

"Portsmouth got stuck in at times in the second half and we suffered some rough treatment. You just have to show a bit of calmness when that happens but Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez got no protection all night."

Carlos Tevez made his Manchester United debut in place of Rooney.

Paul Scholes gave United the lead and Benjani Mwaruwari equalised in the second half for Pompey.