Eurosport - Fri, 06 Mar 12:23:00 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo's "arrogance" makes him a target for opposing defenders, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Hitting out at the rise of rash challenges in the Barclays Premier League of late, Wenger used the example of the Manchester United winger as a player who does not always get enough protection.
"Sometimes I feel Manchester United get too much protection and sometimes they don't get enough and Ronaldo is a specific example of that," Wenger said.
"Sometimes his arrogance is provocative - and his class as well.
"But when a player is not protected it's not right. When there is a bad tackle you have to be punished and get sent off the pitch."
Ronaldo was in the wars again during United's 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday night, clashing with Alan Smith on the pitch and Steven Taylor off it in a tunnel bust-up.
Wenger has been concerned by a rise in reckless tackles this season.
Wigan's Lee Cattermole saw red on Wednesday night for a lunge at Scott Parker, while Everton yesterday confirmed that Victor Anichebe will miss the rest of the season as a result of a Kevin Nolan tackle on January 22.
Wenger wants to see longer bans of up to 10 matches introduced for guilty players, claiming three matches is not enough when the victims can be sidelined for so long.
"They could create a special committee to analyse if three [games' suspension] is enough or not," he said. "I feel in some tackles 10 games is not enough."
Comment 29 - 48 of 88
10 mins in the sin bin for a yellow card like in rugby would sure liven it up!
I hate it when a player gets a yellow for a foul when they leave the other player injured and they have to go off for treatment. Why should the offender still be aloowed to stay on the pitch?
fans within 50 miles? thats all man city fans!!! man utd's fans are mostly in asia, africa, europe and s.america...all glory hunters!!
How about fining and banning players who dive??? With more servere penalties to players who dive and get a goal resulted or a player sent off. Use a match reply to comb through the evidence and then hand out the yellow or red cards after the game to the players who deliberatly dive to get a penalty, shot on goal or another player a card.
Could use a video ref during the game also but i think it will slow the game down a bit but then again all this crying a faking slow's the game down anyway.
Ronaldo needs to work on his diving skills and stop trying to humiliate opposing players with his tapdancing...just play the game nerd...now go on Man U fans rip me apart...but only fans from within 50 mile radius of Old Trafford...the rest of you, go fling custard at the moon! Glory hunting nerds hahah
I'm more anti Arsenal then Man Utd but I have to agree with what Wenger is saying, Ronaldo doesn't do himself any favours with his smug arrogant look and his diving around like a fairy. I have no problem with a bit of showboating, if you have the skill then why not show it off! I certainly don't doubt his ability its just his manor, i'm sure he can onnly learn as a player otherwise it will only take one hot head to dive in two footed and he's out for the season and not the same player again.
I agree with micpando - why does Ronaldo get away with kicking out at people when he's on the ground? He should have beem sent off against Blackburn before scoring for kicking out at Dunne...he would have been had Dunne not been so honest and carried on with the game-maybe Ron should take a leaf from his book
TOMKBNS;RUBBISH, THERE IS A DIFERENCE BETWEEN HARD TACKLE AND ROUGH TACKLE WITH INTENT TO INJURE AN OPPONENT AND I DONT THINK VIERA WAS OF THE LATTER.HOW MANY LEGS DID VIERA BREAK IN HIS ALMOST TEN YRS IN THE PL.WHAT WENGER IS SAYING IS JUST COMMON SENSE AND I DONT THINK HE ADDED THAT ARSENAL PLAYERS SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM LENGTHY BANS.
Everyone has an opinion on this subject, so to all football fans lets stop slagging off wenger and ferguson and stick to the facts, dirty footballers and divers for whatever team they play for should and must be banned as approprite for the good of the game and for the safety of all footballers
Wenger's right (as always). Referees are scared to make judgment decisions with Man Utd - especially at Old Trafford. Ref's are far too lenient on Man Utd - point in fact: Vidic should have red carded for his deliberate lunge on Martins on Wednesday. And as for Ronaldo kicking out during the Blackburn game the week before, we all know the ref seen it but was too gutless to do anything. Ronaldo needs to be taken down a peg or too - and he needs to wash his slimey hair.
The Guilty should be banned from playing as long as the innocent is out injured, be it the rest of the season or a minimum of about 10 games!
The Sun: 'Arrogant Ronaldo is Asking for Trouble'
BBC: 'Wenger calls for tackling crackdown'
Yahoo: 'Wenger - Ronaldo Arrogance Hurts Him'
Nice to see where Yahoo's aspirations are.
ronaldo:" I am happy here but the future you never know= I want to get the fuc out of here".
Best player last season by a mile no doubt about it, u can bang in as many goals as u want but u'll never b as great as Cantona and Best becoz of ure diving and character! That's what makes you disliked by many fans
mr wenger ...do you remember thiery henry scoring a goal at highbury, then mockingly picking the ball out of the net and giving it to the goalkeeper...if that's not arrogance what is ???....you never said a word about it did you...united may well meet you in the champions league or the fa cup...and boy will the united player's give you their answer...another massive own goal for mr sour grapes !!!!!!!!!!
Wenger you are right.Am sure Fergie influence him to be doing that.Not only Ronaldo but the whole ManU are being favoured by refs.That is why they are at this level.Well rafa said it and anti-Liverpool fans shouted.Let me see their reactions on this too
And to all those ManU fans who complain about Vieira taking out players deliberately : the last example of this attitude was Vidic. What did he get ? A yellow card... Mmmh!!
Again when you have Rooney, Scholes, Ferdinand, Vidic and co in the same team, you shouldn't criticize someone defending your own player, you idiots.
Celery, Celery,
If @#$%-whinger don't @#$%, Jose will always tickle her @#$%-anal squad,With a lump of celery...
I think Wenger is right and fair in his comments here.
it's just the title doesn't reflect the true meaning of the article. It's a shame !
@ Robert :
you feel Wenger should look at his own signings ? Well, if you think ManU are better : what about Scholes, Vidic, Ferdinand, Rooney...back to Cantona. What a great bunch of role models and players who know how to control their temper and aggressiveness !
And for your information, he didn't say his own players would escape any punishment.
I Think Wenger And Other Players And Coaches Are Jelous Of Cristiano. As For Me Is The Best Player On Earth. After Ronaldinho And Jay Jay Okocha Of course. Milan 4 Life
Wenger the great ronaldo a p***y
Wenger has a point about the length of bans for dangerous tackles. Perhaps the aggressor should be banned until such time as the victim is fit or for 3 games, whichever is the greater!
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