FIFA turns down Man U's Ronaldo complaint
Last Updated: Monday, June 16, 2008 | 1:48 PM ET
CBC Sports
FIFA has dismissed Manchester United's official complaint over Real Madrid's attempts to sign Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
FIFA, soccer's governing body, received the official protest a week ago and issued a statement Monday saying it wouldn't take any action against the Spanish club.
"From the documentation received, no breach of contract appears to have occurred yet," FIFA said in a statement.
"Therefore, in accordance with the applicable practice, no kind of formal procedure has been opened by FIFA regarding this matter."
FIFA said it has asked the Spanish soccer federation to remind Real Madrid about "the potential legal consequences of a breach of contract without just cause ... and of a possible inducement to such a breach of contract."
Real Madrid have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo, currently playing for the Portuguese national team at Euro 2008, recently told a Brazilian media outlet that he wants to play for Real Madrid, but only if the Spanish club breaks the bank to sign him.
Recent Spanish media reports suggested Real Madrid would consider tabling a $158.7-million Cdn offer to United for the services of Ronaldo, who joined the English club from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
Madrid holds the record for the biggest transfer fee in soccer history, paying Italian team Juventus $71.5 million for the services of Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Reports also suggest Real would be willing to pay Ronaldo $30 million a season, a contract that would make him the highest-paid soccer player in the world.
Ronaldo signed a five-year contract extension with Manchester United last April, tying him to the club until the end of the 2011-12 season. For Ronaldo to join Real Madrid, United would first have to agree to sell him, but the English club has publicly and repeatedly said it has no intention of selling Ronaldo.
Manchester United has plenty of reasons for wanting to keep Ronaldo. He scored 42 goals in all competitions for United this season, helping the Red Devils claim their second consecutive Premier League title and win the Champions League final.
He's also the top candidate to win the FIFA world player of the year award that will be handed out by soccer's world governing body in December.
