Ron red was a real cryme

PLEASE, please don’t tell me you were among those who thought Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to be sent off in the Champions League the other night.

I would not deny anybody the right to have their say about the ‘incident’ which led to the world’s best player being dismissed in Valencia. But if you were in the ‘definite red card’ camp, step into my office.

Red card, for ruffling an opponent’s hair or reacting to a challenge with the tiniest hint of aggression? Absolute nonsense.

I don’t blame Ronaldo (above) for bursting into tears when he was sent off. It’s enough to make you weep.

I cried when I was sent off for Wales against Northern Ireland – when, like Ronaldo, I knew I didn’t deserve it.

You have to apply the laws of the game in the Champions League the same way as you would interpret them in a Sunday morning league.

And if you’ve ever seen anyone in your local park sent off for tugging an opponent’s hair, I would be astonished.