Middlesbrough FC

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Southgate condemns Ronaldo

03 Dec 2006 - 07:06:34

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Furious Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate blasted Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United winger appeared to dive to win a penalty in his side's 2-1 victory at the Riverside Stadium.

The Portugal international was awarded a penalty even though Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made no contact with him and Louis Saha made no mistake from the spot.

Asked if Schwarzer felt he had been cheated, Southgate replied: "Yes, it's as simple as that.

"It's very difficult for the referee because it happens very quickly, but how many times are we going to see it?

"The lad has got a history of doing it and, in the end, that's cost us the game.

"If you go behind to a goal against a team like United, it's a mountain to climb.

"Our goalkeeper has done everything he can to get out of the way. There was clearly no contact, I did not think so at the time and when you see the replays there is nothing there. For me, it's never a penalty.

"I don't know what you do. That is for people who are better qualified than me to deal with.

"I'm not interested in talking about him, really. He plays the way he obviously thinks is the right way. That's fine, but on the day, that has given us a mountain to climb."