Ronnie in clear to face Reds
CRISTIANO RONALDO can play against former club Manchester United in the Champions League despite his midweek red card.
The Portugal superstar is guaranteed to serve a mandatory one-game ban when his new club Juventus face Young Boys on October 2 after appearing to pull Valencia defender Jeison Murillo’s hair on his European debut for the Serie A champions.
But UEFA sources have suggested that the suspension is unlikely to be extended to two or three matches, clearing Ronaldo for an emotional return to Old Trafford on October 23.
There is no right of appeal over the one-game ban but sources say that disciplinary officials, who have viewed TV footage of the incident, do not regard Ronaldo’s indiscretion as worthy of an increased punishment, even though he took a long time to leave the pitch amid heated protests.
Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher said: “It was a soft sending-off but the letter of the law says you cannot do that, so I think the one-match ban will probably stick. I expect him to play in both games against Manchester United.”