Wayne Rooney has insisted his dismissal in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final had been unjust, and claimed, despite evidence to the contrary, that he bore Cristiano Ronaldo no ill-will.
The striker's first public comments on the incident came after his Manchester United team-mate began a process of detente aimed at easing his return to United's ranks should his desired move to Real Madrid fall through.
Rooney was sent off after landing his boot in Ricardo Carvalho's groin and shoving his club team-mate, who had raced over to the incident and, according to Rooney's England colleagues, encouraged the referee to send the United striker off.
A wink aimed at the Portuguese bench encouraged the view that Ronaldo had deliberately stirred the incident, and in the aftermath of the game Rooney tried to confront his team-mate in the dressing-rooms.
The incident has raised questions as to whether the pair, valued so highly by Alex Ferguson, will be able to play together again, and yesterday's statements appeared designed to draw some of the poison.
Ronaldo was the first to offer an olive branch, conscious no doubt that with the Real Madrid presidential election not going as his advisers had predicted a transfer from Old Trafford is by no means certain.
"There is no problem at all between me and Rooney," he told his representatives' website. "At the end of the game we exchanged a series of text messages, just as we had on the day before. This reinforces that I have a fine relationship with Rooney. Between the two of us everything is clear."
Rooney's response indicated that his view of the incident is not as straight-forward as the winger suggests. Rooney believes Ronaldo's involvement contributed to his dismissal, although diplomacy and his club responsibilities prevented him from being quite so specific.
"I remember the incident clearly and have seen it several times since on TV," he said in his statement.
"I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time, that what happened didn't warrant a red card. If anything, I feel we should have had a free-kick for the fouls committed on me during the same incident.
"I want to say absolutely categorically I did not intentionally put my foot down on Ricardo Carvalho. He slid in from behind me and unfortunately ended up in a position where my foot was inevitably going to end up as I kept my balance. That's all there was to it.
"When the referee produced the red card I was amazed, gobsmacked. I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano (Ronaldo), but I am disappointed he chose to get involved. I suppose I do, though, have to remember on that particular occasion we were not team-mates."
Ronaldo's attempt to smooth over the incident follows Ramon Calderon's election as Real Madrid's president yesterday. The belated announcement ended any lingering hopes entertained by Juan Miguel Villar Mir, the man who had promised to lure the Portugal winger.
Calderon has secured Fabio Capello as his coach, has promised to sign Cesc Fabregas, Kaka and Arjen Robben. There is no place in his project for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, had met Villar Mir and his vice-president, Carlos Sainz, and afterwards Ronaldo insisted baldly: "I want to play for Real Madrid."
Unfortunately there seems little room for him in Capello's plans, with David Beckham and Ronaldinho pencilled in for wide roles and Robben set to be added. It is believed the basis of a deal for the Chelsea winger has already been agreed.
The completion of the new £757 million Wembley stadium looks likely to be delayed further, according to its builders.
Australian construction firm Multiplex has said they expect the construction work will not now be finished until after September.
In a statement, they said "certain works" had to be carried out by another company, Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL), before the construction work could be completed and that they believed these works would not be finished by the end of September.
Guardian Service
