CRUISING FOR A BRUISING

Last updated : 23 March 2007 By Editor

Reuters:

Uefa is to look into allegations that Belgium goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen threatened to injure Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2008 qualifier between the two countries.

Reports emanating from Belgium earlier this week quoted Stijnen as saying: "After two minutes we will normally have to attack Ronaldo so much that he will have to leave the pitch."

The comments have caused outrage with the Portuguese Football Federation calling for the matter to be investigated.

The Club Brugge goalkeeper has moved to suggest he was misquoted, but Uefa is still planning to investigate the allegations.

"We have received a complaint from the Portuguese FA and we will start an investigation into the matter," said a Uefa spokesman.

"We will be contacting the Belgian FA in due course, but the investigation will not be completed by the time of the match on Saturday."

The Belgian Football Association claim the matter is over with spokesman Nicolas Cornu revealing they had contacted their Portuguese counterparts to resolve the issue.

"I spoke to the Portuguese FA and sent them a statement from Stijnen along with a copy of the newspapers today (Thursday) in which he denies he said what the paper wrote on Monday."